FREE MAY 2015

BOOKS MUSIC FILM EVENTS

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Special lift-out

NEW IN MAY

MARY JIM JANE THE MELBOURNE’S NORRIS SHEPARD SMILEY WITNESSES WOMEN OF SOUL $29.99 $29.99 $29.99 $39.95 $19.95 page 18 page 8 page 8 page 22 page 22

READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 3

News

25% OFF LONELY PLANET STORIES UP HIGH FESTIVAL culture. There’ll be masterclasses, parties, Fed up with winter already and dreaming Readings are pleased to be the official performances and readings, and a whole about your next overseas trip? Luckily, the bookseller at this year’s Stories Up High lot more. For more information visit Readings’ Lonely Planet sale is on once Festival (10–24 May). This year’s program emergingwritersfestival.org.au. Readings more, with 25% off all titles from 1 to 31 includes two of the biggest names in is a proud supporter of the Emerging May. Whatever your travel style, Lonely children’s literature, David Walliams and Writers’ Festival. Planet is brimming with inspiration to Andy Griffiths. There will be events with help you choose your next adventure or fiction author Cate Kennedy (The World READINGS BOOK CONCIERGE escape. The sale is on in all Readings shops Beneath) and memoir writer Rebecca AT THE EMERGING WRITERS’ and online at readings.com.au. Starford (Bad Behaviour). Plus exhibitions, FESTIVAL movies, storytelling, competitions, cooking, and train rides. Visit storiesuphigh.com.au For the duration of this year’s Emerging MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL to find out more. Writers’ Festival, booksellers from JAZZ FESTIVAL Readings will be available to provide From 28 May to 7 June, Melbourne will literary recommendations and help you come alive with Australia’s largest jazz FREUD CONFERENCE 2015: discover your next great read. You can send festival, entertaining aficionados and RELIGION, FANATICISM & TRAUMA them your questions by post (Readings Book newcomers alike. With a modern masters The Freud Conference applies Concierge, PO Box 1238, Carlton VIC 3053), series, intimate club gigs, film screenings, psychoanalytic thinking to a broad email ([email protected]) or artist workshops and daily free concerts, range of topics, and each year attracts Twitter (@ReadingsBooks). Readings will there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Visit internationally renowned speakers from be publishing their answers as part of a melbournejazz.com for the full program and the psychoanalytic community and related daily wrap-up at readings.com.au/news. bookings. Readings is a proud sponsor of academic fields. The 2015 conference Your name and contact details will be kept the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. addresses the complex issues around strictly confidential, and your question will We’re also holding a fantastic jazz sale in religion, fanaticism and trauma. Keynote be printed anonymously. For best results, stores to celebrate (sale details below). speakers include Prof Dr Marianne please provide as much detail as possible Leuzinger-Bohleber and Dr Werner about what you like to read and the kind of Bohleber. The conference will be held at book you’re looking for! Questions will be READINGS’ JAZZ SALE the Melbourne Brain Centre in the Kenneth answered at Readings’ discretion. Readings’ annual jazz sale is on throughout Myer Building, University of Melbourne the month of May, and features the biggest on Saturday 16 May. Find out more at THE STELLA PRIZE WINNER names from the jazz world, including freudconference.com, or contact Christine Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Keith Hill at [email protected]. The Stella Prize for 2015 has been awarded Jarrett, as well as a huge range of imports Readings is the official bookseller at the to Emily Bitto for her debut novel, from the USA and Europe. Hundreds Freud Conference. The Strays. The Stella Prize celebrates of titles starting from $9.95 including Australian women’s contribution to recordings from Blue Note, Verve, literature. It was awarded for the first time Columbia and more. This sale is available THE EMERGING WRITERS’ in 2013 to Carrie Tiffany for Mateship with Readings Monthly in all of our five Readings shops until 31 FESTIVAL Birds, and last year’s winner was Clare Free independent monthly newspaper May. Not available online. The Emerging Writers’ Festival will return Wright for The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka. published by Readings Books, Music & Film from 26 May–5 June, uniting some of The prize is worth $50,000, and both Australia’s most innovative, creative and fiction and nonfiction books are eligible Editor MELBOURNE PRIZE FOR talented literary upstarts, from writers for entry. Kerryn Goldsworthy, chair of the Elke Power LITERATURE 2015 and editors to publishers and performers. 2015 Stella Prize judging panel says The [email protected] On 18 May entries open for the Melbourne This year’s writers’ conference (30–31 Strays is ‘both moving and sophisticated; Prize for Literature 2015. With a prize May) will bring together emerging and both well researched and original; both Editorial Assistant pool of over $100,000, the Melbourne professional writers to talk all things intellectually engaging and emotionally Alan Vaarwerk Prize for Literature will recognise and writing, from novel writing, travel writing gripping’. [email protected] reward the work of Victorian published and genre writing to podcasting and pop writers across all genres. Keep an eye on Advertising melbourneprize.org for the entry form and Stella Charls more information. The Melbourne Prize [email protected] (03) 9341 7739 for Literature 2015 and Awards is made possible this year through the generous Graphic Design support of a broad range of partners and Cat Matteson patrons, including Readings. [email protected]

Front Cover CLUNES BOOKTOWN FESTIVAL Readings Monthly cover design by Cat Clunes Booktown Festival returns on Matteson with images from the cover of 2–3 May, with 20,000 people expected Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma to attend along with book-traders from Queen by Mary Norris, courtesy of Text across Australia. For these two days, the Publishing. Between You & Me cover design village will become home to the largest by W.H. Chong. collection of new, second hand, rare and out-of-print small-press publications Cartoon and collectable books in Australia. See Oslo Davis clunesbooktown.com.au for tickets or more oslodavis.com information. This is the inaugural year that Readings is a proud supporter of the Clunes Readings donates 10% of its profits each year to The Readings Foundation: Booktown Festival and will be selling books readings.com.au/the-readings-foundation at Clunes throughout the weekend. 4 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

May Events MICHELLE IAN MCAULEY 13 CRAWFORD IN 19 AND MIRIAM CONVERSATION LYONS ON TEDDY TOOK THE WITH CHRIS GOVERNOMICS 10 TRAIN GORDON Join us for the Melbourne launch of You and your family are invited to a Miriam Lyons and Ian McAuley’s new book special launch event for Nikki Greenberg’s Readings events manager Christine Gordon Governomics – which makes arguments about wonderful new picture book Teddy Took the will talk with Michelle Crawford about the economic role of government for people Train. There’ll be a special guest appearance Michelle’s gorgeous new memoir and who are fed up with dumbed-down debates from the station master. All welcome – and cookbook, A Table in the Orchard. about ‘small government.’ bring your teddy! Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Free, no booking required Free, but please RSVP to Wednesday 13 May, 12.30pm Tuesday 19 May, 6.30pm [email protected] Readings Hawthorn Readings Carlton Sunday 10 May, 10.30am Readings Hawthorn DAVID TACEY’S 13 BEYOND LITERAL MIRANDA KIRALY ADRIANO ZUMBO BELIEF 20 & MEAGAN TYLER 1 SIGNING IN-STORE ON THE LIMITS OF ABC Radio National presenter Rachael MasterChef’s own master pâtissier Adriano Kohn will talk with David Tacey about his LIBERAL FEMINISM Zumbo will be signing copies of his fabulous new book, Beyond Literal Belief: Religion as Miranda Kiraly and Meagan Tyler will new cookbook The Zumbo Files. Don’t miss Metaphor. talk about their new edited collection this chance to meet the ‘sweet assassin.’ The Freedom Fallacy: the Limits of Liberal Free, no booking required Feminism – a new book arguing that the Free, no booking required Wednesday 13 May, 6pm for a 6.30pm start kind of liberal feminism mostly seen does Friday 1 May, 5pm HELEN GARNER IN Readings Hawthorn far too little to challenge the status quo. Readings Carlton 11 CONVERSATION WITH MARK Free, no booking required PEACHES SIGNING RUBBO Wednesday 20 May, 6.30pm Readings Carlton 1 IN-STORE Mark Rubbo, Readings Managing Director, Musician and performance artist Peaches will talk with Helen Garner (Monkey will be in-store signing copies of What Else Grip, The First Stone, This House of Grief) HELGA LEUNIG IN Is In the Teaches of Peaches. This new book about her work. Don’t miss this evening 21 CONVERSATION is a collaboration with photographer Holger with one of Australia’s best authors, WITH CATE and best booksellers, as they talk about Talinski, and includes text written by Peaches, KENNEDY Michael Stipe, Yoko Ono and Ellen Page. literature and life over the past forty years. Join us for a special celebration as author Tickets are $15 per person and all proceeds will Free, no booking required be donated to The Readings Foundation. Cate Kennedy (Dark Roots, The World Friday 1 May, 6.30pm Please book at readings.com.au/events Beneath) talks to Helga Leunig about Helga’s Readings St Kilda beautiful new book of photographs, Mother Monday 11 May, 6pm Church of all Nations Country: Reflections of Australian Rural Life. LAUNCH OF BRIAN 180 Palmerston Street, Carlton KRISSY KNEEN IN 14 CONVERSATION Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events 5 MCFARLANE’S Thursday 21 May, 6.30pm DOUBLE ACT LEAH KAMINSKY WITH CHRISTOS Readings St Kilda TSIOLKAS Peter Rose, author and editor of Australian 12 WITH STEPHEN Book Review will launch Brian McFarlane’s AND SALLY DAMAINI Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap, Barracuda) STORYTIME WITH new biography Double-Act: The Remarkable ON CRACKING will talk to Krissy Kneen about her new 23 ELIZABETH novel, The Adventures of Holly White and Lives and Careers of Googie Withers and THE CODE HONEY John McCallum. the Incredible Sex Machine. Join us for a Leah Kaminsky and Stephen and Sally conversation about the philosophy of sex, Bring the kids in for this extra-special story Free, but please book by 30 April Damaini will talk about their new book, sexuality in literature, and classic erotica. time with the wonderful Elizabeth Honey with Sarah Cannon at Monash Cracking the Code. Cracking the Code is the (I'm Still Awake, Still!) – with Elizabeth University Publishing on extraordinary story of a search for the cause Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events reading her new book Hop Up! Wriggle [email protected] or 03 9905 0526. of a baby boy’s mystery disease – and new Thursday 14 May, 6.30pm Over! Hear all about how a family of Tuesday 5 May, 6.30pm possibilities for genome medicine. Readings Carlton Australian animals zip, crunch, gobble and Readings Hawthorn bounce through the day! Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events THE FURTHER MOTHERHOOD & Tuesday 12 May, 6pm Free, no booking required Readings Hawthorn 18 TALES OF A Saturday 23 May, 10.30am 6 CREATIVITY COUNTRY Readings Carlton Clare Bowditch will launch a new and MONGREL DOCTOR FROM expanded edition of Rachel Power’s book PAUL CARTER DANIEL Motherhood & Creativity: The Divided Heart. 13 RAPTURE, The new edition features an introduction from EXEGESIS, AND Join us for the launch of Paul Carter’s new 26 MENDELSOHN IN Clare and interviews with new contributors THE memoir, The Further Tales of a Country CONVERSATION Doctor. including Claudia Karvan and Pip Lincolne. ARCHITECTURE WITH JAMES LEY Free, no booking required Free, no booking required OF ASHTON In a meeting of critical minds brought to you Monday 18 May, 6.30pm Wednesday 6 May, 6.30pm by the Melbourne Jewish Writers Festival, RAGGATT Readings Carlton Readings Carlton award-winning author Daniel Mendelsohn MCDOUGALL (The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million) will What might an exegetical architecture look be in conversation with literary critic James RAMONA KOVAL OLIVER MOL IN like? Can architecture be critical? Does it have 18 CONVERSATION Ley, editor of the Sydney Review of Books and 7 ON BLOODHOUND: something to say? Join us in a discussion of author of The Critic in the Modern World. SEARCHING FOR architecture, the possibilities of interpretation, WITH LUKE RYAN Tickets are $20 or $18 concession. Please book and the new book Mongrel Rapture, the first Luke Ryan (A Funny Thing Happened on the MY FATHER at readings.com.au/events monograph on Ashton Raggatt McDougall, Way to Chemo) will talk with Oliver Mol Tuesday 26 May, 7.30pm Broadcaster and writer Ramona Koval designers of the National Museum of Australia about Oliver’s debut memoir, Lion Attack! (By the Book: A Reader’s Guide to Life) will and the Barak Building at Swanston Square. Ormond Hall at the Village, 557 St Kilda Rd, talk about her new memoir, Bloodhound: Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Melbourne. Entry via Moubray Street (oppo- site Wesley College) Searching For My Father. Free, no booking required Monday 18 May, 6.30pm Wednesday 13 May, 6.30pm Readings St Kilda Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Readings Carlton Thursday 7 May, 6pm Readings Hawthorn READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 5

HARVEY THE GRIERSON June Diary Dates 26 BROADBENT ON 28 EFFECT DEFENDING Ross Gibson will launch Deane Williams’s GALLIPOLI book The Grierson Effect – a new collection ROBYN of essays on John Grierson, the father of 2 CADWALLADER Don’t miss the bestselling author of Gallipoli: British documentary. The Fatal Shore talking about his new book ON THE Defending Gallipoli. Harvey Broadbent Free, no booking required ANCHORESS spent five years translating everything, from Thursday 28 May, 6.30pm Robyn Cadwallader will talk about her official records to soldiers’ personal diaries Readings St Kilda new novel The Anchoress. The Anchoress and letters, to unearth the full Turkish story. is an extraordinary story, set in the twelfth century and within the confines of a stone Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events READING cell measuring seven paces by nine. Tuesday 26 May, 6.30pm 28–31 MATTERS Readings Hawthorn Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Reading Matters is a series of events dedicated to storytelling for young Tuesday 2 June, 6pm ANN TURNER’S THE people. Presented by the Centre for Youth Community Hall, Church of Saint John the Evangelist, 5 Finch St, Malvern East 27 LOST SWIMMER Literature, in 2015 the 11th biennial Reading Matters will bring together a sparkling Annette Blonski will launch Ann Turner’s array of authors, illustrators and publishers The Lost Swimmer – a powerful new novel to discuss, debate and celebrate books about marriage and deceit. for young adults. There’s something for Free, no booking required everybody with a student program on Wednesday 27 May, 6.30pm 28 May, a conference on 29 and 30 May Readings Carlton for professionals and youth literature enthusiasts, and a free public conference on 31 May. Readings is the official bookseller for MYFANWY JONES Reading Matters. 27 ON LEAP Explore the wonderful program at Join us for the launch of Leap, the new novel slv.vic.gov.au/live-learn/courses-librarians-and- ABDI ADEN IN from Myfanwy Jones. teachers/reading-matters 3 CONVERSATION Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 May Free, but please RSVP by Friday 22 Various venues, see program for details WITH CATHERINE May to [email protected] DEVENY Wednesday 27 May, 6pm Writer and comedian Catherine Deveny will the SoCA Exhibition Space at June Diary Dates Learn 26-28 Ovens Street, Brunswick talk with Abdi Aden about his new book Shining (co-authored with Robert Hillman). Shining tells Abdi’s story – from fleeing magic of ANDY GRIFFITHS STUART Somalia’s vicious civil war, surviving as a 27 ON WRITING FOR 1 MACINTYRE IN refugee in Romania and Germany and then CHILDREN AT THE CONVERSATION arriving, just 17 years old, in Melbourne where he went on to school, university and FRENCH EMERGING GIDEON HAIGH became a youth worker. WRITERS’ FESTIVAL Author and journalist Gideon Haigh will Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events Andy Griffiths started out making his own talk with historian Stuart MacIntyre about Wednesday 3 June, 6.30pm books and zines and selling them himself. Stuart’s new book, Australia’s Boldest Readings Carlton Now he’s been writing for over 25 years and Experiment: War and Reconstruction in the Adults, children will happily queue for hours for his 1940s. signature. Join us for an event in partnership Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events with the Emerging Writers’ Festival as Andy Teenagers & Monday 1 June, 6.30pm talks about his grassroots approach to writing Readings Carlton and the steps he took once he decided to Children write for children. Please note that this event is for aspiring writers, not for young readers – SAM LIPSKI IN from 3 yrs old it’s strictly for writers over 18 years old. 1 CONVERSATION

Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events WITH MICHAEL Wednesday 27 May, 6.30pm GAWENDA Readings St Kilda Author and journalist Michael Gawenda will talk with Sam Lipski about Sam’s new book ST KILDA & CBD (co-authored with Suzanne D. Rutland) Let THE LONG AND My People Go: The Untold Story of Australia 4 WINDING ROAD locations and the Soviet Jews 1959-1989. TO GETTING Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events PUBLISHED Monday 1 June, 6.30pm Join us for this Emerging Writers’ Festival Readings St Kilda event with fiction authors (and Readings staff!) Miles Allinson (Fever of Animals), STEVEN CARROLL Leanne Hall (This is Shyness), and Alec 2 ON FOREVER Patric (Black Rock White City) as they KILL YOUR YOUNG discuss how they got published with 28 DARLINGS FIRST Readings book buyer and spotter of the next Join us for the launch of the latest novel big thing in local publishing, Martin Shaw. BOOK CLUB from Steven Carroll, the award-winning AllianceFrançaise The May Kill Your Darlings First Book Club author of The Art of the Engine Driver and Free, but please book at readings.com.au/events de Melbourne event features Abigail Ulman in conversation The Gift of Speed. In his latest, Forever Young, Thursday 4 June, 6.30pm WE TEACH FRENCH about her brilliant debut short story Carroll writes about life in Australia in the Readings St Kilda collection, Hot Little Hands, with Kill Your 1970s. Darlings online editor Veronica Sullivan. Free, no booking required Drinks will be provided by the Beer Gypsies. Tuesday 2 June, 6.30pm For more information and updates, please visit Tel: 9525 3463 Free, but please RSVP to Readings Carlton the events page at readings.com.au/events. [email protected] 51 Grey Street, St Kilda Thursday 28th May, 7pm Please note bookings do not necessarily Readings Carlton guarantee a seat and some events may be www.afmelbourne.com.au standing room only. 6 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

Mark’s News and views from Readings’ Managing Director, Say Mark Rubbo

Last month the Harper Competition Policy Review delivered its final report. Set up by the Abbott Government in late 2013, the report runs to 500 odd pages. As you might expect, the Review does not favour regulations and makes a number of recommendations to the government. Recommendation 13 in particular refers to the book industry, as well as the film industry, recommending that restrictions on parallel imports should be removed unless it can be shown that the benefits of the restrictions to the community as a whole outweigh the costs; and that the objectives of the restrictions can only be achieved by restricting this form of competition. Implicit in this is a view that the existing restrictions make books more expensive than they need be. The restrictions do mean that booksellers can’t import overseas editions of books for which Australian publishers hold Australian copyright, even though it may be cheaper for us to do so. The Australian Society of Authors has vigorously attacked the Review’s recommendations, presumably fearing downward pressure on prices will further reduce authors’ incomes. Successful independent Australian publishers who buy and sell rights and depend on a few successful titles to subsidise the rest of their publishing programs fear that ending the restrictions will damage the publishing and writing ecosystem. It’s a complex question and perhaps the best thing would be to have a discussion about what we want our creative industries to be and how we want them to operate for all stakeholders – and then work out how we may best achieve those goals. Recently, many of us were saddened by the passing of Betty Churcher – artist, critic, author, broadcaster and gallery director. Melbourne University Publishing published two of her notebooks, illustrated with her enchanting and insightful annotated sketches of the artworks she has viewed. The first, Notebooks, shared impressions from various gallery collections overseas and, more recently, was followed by Australian Notebooks, which naturally shared Betty’s illuminating thoughts on Australian collections. Last year we were privileged to hear Betty in conversation with our own Christine Gordon at a very special lunch at Hawthorn. At the time she didn’t mention a wonderful discovery she had just made. While rummaging in some old files, she chanced upon a notebook of sketches from the 90s when she was director of the National Gallery of Australia. A forgotten notebook of her drawings, these were hasty sketches made as she travelled through galleries of the world. The sketched works were not favourites or deliberately chosen, they were works happened upon as she made her way to meetings where she was intent on securing loans for an exhibition in Australia. The sketches and marginalia record her fresh impressions of artists and works she might not have instinctively turned to. So, in the last months of her life she worked on selecting sketches and adding notes to what will be her final publication. Just days before her death, in hospital, she finished the final corrections. Melbourne University Publishing will publish The Forgotten Notebook later this year. From the Books Martin Shaw, Desk Readings Books Division Manager Well what a frenetic time it’s been in the book world in recent weeks! We’ve had the announcement of the Stella Prize to our near Carlton neighbour Emily Bitto for her debut novel The Strays; the award of the Australian/Vogel’s Prize for an unpublished writer under 35 to Melbourne author Murray Middleton for When There’s Nowhere Else to Run; and the major US fiction awards: the Pulitzer to Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, and the PEN/Faulkner to Atticus Lish’s debut Preparation for the Next Life. The month of May is also a bountiful one in terms of new releases. Locally, the wait is One of 2013’s best-loved novels, A darkly glinting novel set over for all those fans of Steve Toltz’s bestselling 2008 novel A Fraction of the Whole. For Life After Life explored the on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, our reviewer, Quicksand ‘resembles Toltz’s previous epic’ but also ‘has given us something possibility of infinite chances, The Green Road is a story of brilliant to marvel at again’. Then there’s Malcolm Knox – who Christos Tsiolkas regards as Ursula Todd lived through fracture and family, selfishness as one of the best writers in the world today – with his much-anticipated new novel The the turbulent events of the last and compassion – a book about Wonder Lover; and Krissy Kneen’s latest (‘an amazing literary sci-fi superhero sex romp from century again and again. the gaps in the human heart Australia’s genre-bending queen of erotica’) The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible and how we learn to fill them. In the much-anticipated A God in Sex Machine (I imagine we’ll be turning the lights down for her in-store event in Carlton on Ruins, Ursula’s younger brother Teddy Man Booker winner Anne Enright 14 May where Krissy will be in conversation with Tsiolkas!). – would-be poet, RAF bomber, pilot, is addicted to the truth of things. There’s a return this month for some much-loved UK authors: Kate Atkinson, with A husband and father – faces living in a Sentence by sentence, there are God in Ruins; Anne Enright’s The Green Road; and Sarah Hall’s The Wolf Border – all of which future he never expected to have. few writers alive who can invest the receive a resounding thumbs-up from our reviewers. Another rave is for the ridiculously language with such torque and gleam, A God in Ruins is the masterful talented and perhaps a little under-appreciated American author Jim Shepard. Our Carlton such wit and longing. companion to Life After Life, and shop manager Robbie Egan has been a long-time fan, and just loved Shepard’s latest work The proves once again that Kate Atkinson The Green Road is a stunning Book of Aron. Meanwhile, our expert in all matters crime fiction was completely seduced by is one of the finest novelists of our age. addition to the oeuvre of one of the a new German novel, Sascha Arango’s The Truth and Other Lies; he will be in the country this world’s most celebrated writers. month for the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Turning to non-fiction there are several highlights. John Julius Norwich is the pre- eminent historian of the Mediterranean, so his Sicily will be eagerly awaited. The great literary critic James Wood also has a new essay collection, The Nearest Thing to Life; and Robert Macfarlane, whose The Old Ways enchanted many a couple of years ago, returns with ‘a joyous meditation on words and landscape’, Landmarks. But it’s the fields of biography and autobiography that are perhaps the richest. On the local front, Rochelle Siemienowicz’s Fallen is another addition to some really outstanding life writing published in recent times; Oliver Mol announces himself as a writer to watch with his memoir of growing up in pre-9/11 America (and finding his feet as a writer in Melbourne) in Lion Attack!; and the legendary Ramona Koval has a moving account of her search for her Jewish ancestors in Bloodhound. Meanwhile, we have the latest work of the acclaimed author and randomhouse.com.au neurologist Oliver Sacks with On the Move: A Life; and a terrific account of being a copyeditor at the New Yorker from Mary Norris, Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen. READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 7

New Fiction

men. The story proceeds from a compact Australian Fiction THE ADVENTURES OF premise: an insipid, outwardly HOLLY WHITE AND unremarkable man keeps three separate THE INCREDIBLE SEX QUICKSAND wives, and fathers three separate sets of children across three continents. MACHINE Steve Toltz Effectively archetypal in its rendering of Krissy Kneen Hamish Hamilton. PB. Was $32.99 the central characters, the novel offsets its Text. PB. $29.99 $29.99 mechanical fabula through the peripheral, Krissy Kneen, at It’s been several spectral narration of the children; here is the beginning of years since Steve the fluid, first person plural ‘we’ which we her book, The Toltz published his see used to increasing effect in contemporary Adventures of Holly sprawling debut, A fiction. It all amounts to a potent mix, an White and the Give mum the gift Fraction of the Whole, archetypal play that marries journalistic Incredible Sex of a great read for and readers awaiting rigour with novelistic drifts, allusions Machine, has us another dosage of and snares. watching Brisbane Mother’s Day. fierce iconoclasm and What is the worst thing that can happen rich girl Holly, dark-peppered wit to a man who has three wives? He falls concealed in darkness, will not be in love. Readers of Nabokov and Martin spying on two strangers hooking up in a disappointed. With every bit of rambling Amis will recognise the parodic legacy of swimming pool. Unlike other girls, Holly dialogue and hilarious anecdote, men humiliated by love in Knox’s work. emits a shining blue ectoplasm when Quicksand resembles Toltz’s previous The Wonder Lover is alert to the generic aroused, a glowing bright gel between her epic because the stories quickly amount markers of the romantic experience: men legs. She knows she’s different. She to a catalogue of catastrophes. Our two in love are in trouble because they suddenly retreats from the scene into the arms of remarkably unlucky, down-and-out find themselves written into the romance her jock boyfriend, who respects the ring protagonists are both failures whose lives genre. Brilliant in its excavations of this she and her friends wear, inscribed with are entangled through lifelong friendship literary and cultural inheritance, the novel the vow of chastity: true love waits. and dependence. boldly takes down its anti-hero and throws But Holly’s sexuality can’t be Liam Wilder, unsuccessful writer- into play the question of the authenticity of suppressed. This desire – insatiable, come-policeman has been bailing his love. To what extent is this most personal tangible, an increasingly potent magma friend Aldo Benjamin out of scrapes for of experiences generic, standardised and substance – transfers into both Holly’s AVAILABLE NOW years. A disastrous entrepreneur, Aldo reproducible? Does this type of desire in lust for literature, and to the reader’s own has been impoverishing friends, family One family’s inspiring true story fact gain authenticity precisely through its delight. At university, Holly is invited to about survival in modern China, and investors his entire life, collecting standardisation? It’s an old question that an underground book club from which iron will and the strength of a an array of specialists around him to has never gone away, but Knox drills down she emerges utterly changed, her first mother’s love. combat his latest medical, legal, criminal, in it, delivering a bright and unsettling gem. true sexual experience dismantling her as emotional or financial disaster. Liam Lucy Van is a freelance reviewer Brisbane’s chaste surface is upended and realises that he is just one part of this undressed before her eyes. Armed with human arsenal and it’s not until Aldo is a COMING RAIN a bag of classic erotic texts – Anaïs Nin, convicted criminal, crippled and suicidal de Sade, Salter, Nabokov – she sets out on that he sees his chance: he will write an Stephen Daisley Text. PB. $29.99 a quest to Paris, the city of love, to make epic tale of woe about his friend, thus love and to unlock the true potential of Set in 1956, releasing his own creative paralysis. From her blue energy. Coming Rain this perspective Liam narrates the years Kneen’s writing glories in its delves into Australian of hilarious misfortune and ruminates voyeurism; we watch, as Holly first bush mythology to constantly on a book written by their watched, the unfolding scenes of examine romantic secondary-school art teacher, Mr Morrell. heat, skin and liquid. Holly’s virginity notions of mateship. A cantankerous and eccentric man, navigates the text and this perspective, Itinerant shearers, Morrell wrote a treatise on art called this plucked newness, extends to all her Painter and Lew, are a Artist Within, Artist Without and Liam first experiences: of sex, Paris, love, and makeshift father and AVAILABLE 12 MAY quotes it ostensibly. Wonder about art literature. In mapping out Holly’s sex son team, unrelated A ravishing novel set in the and creation simmers throughout the machine, Kneen has also mapped out but thrown together when Lew is placed vibrant, tumultuous underworld three-part book, making events tragic a vivid heroine’s journey: a very sexy in Painter’s care by his mother. When of late-19th-century New York, and comic, but things only become sci-fi–erotica hybrid with an inspired, adolescent Lew falls for a squatter’s about four young outsiders whose clearer near the end when Liam returns Cronenbergian premise. daughter, trouble brews. Wildness, and lives become entwined over the to narrate. Aldo tells the second part of course of one fateful night. the book at pace, but he is someone who the possibility and futility of taming it, Jemima Bucknell is the online fulfilment manager for Readings never shuts up, and even though his turn becomes a key theme. The opening scenes introduce an of phrase ignites each page, it can often WHEN THERE’S be a slog to get to the punch. Regardless, unexpected heroine, a dingo searching Toltz has given us something brilliant to desperately for prey to nourish her NOWHERE ELSE TO RUN marvel at again. unborn pups. Cut then to a sad and sultry Murray Middleton Luke May is a freelance reviewer war widow emerging from the surf on A&U. PB. $27.99. Cottlesloe Beach. A fight ensues between Winner of the 2015 THE WONDER LOVER lifesavers and the shearers, one that Australian/Vogel’s foreshadows the novel’s preoccupations Malcolm Knox Literary Award, When with love, violence, abandonment, class, A&U. PB. Was $32.99 There’s Nowhere Else loneliness, trust and loyalty. $27.99 to Run is a collection Flipping back and forth between of stories about people Malcolm Knox is the shearers’ lives and the dingo’s quest who find their lives a respected for survival, there is frequent violence, unravelling. They are literary editor and unsettling and graphically depicted. Men teachers, lawyers, AVAILABLE NOW journalist, known to brawl. Animals are hunted, culled and nurses, firemen, chefs, Sydney, 1915. WWI brings tragedy, many for his Walkley kill each other, but Coming Rain is also gamblers, war veterans, hard drinkers, loss and sweeping change for Award winning exposé the women and families left at a revelation in its quiet and beautiful adulterers, widows and romantics. of the fraudulent home. Will Ruby and Jimmy’s love observation of labour and landscape. Seeking refuge all across the country, literary memoir of survive the terrible impact of war? Daisley’s reverence and knowledge of from the wheat belt of Western Australia, Norma Khouri. In the outback transcends the cliché of the limestone desert of South Australia, addition to his heat, dust and flies, inviting readers into the sugarcane towns of Queensland, the achievements in non-fiction, he is an get the whole story at a mesmerising world of desert flora and hinterland of New South Wales to the esteemed writer of fiction, drawing praise hachette.com.au fauna. Indigenous terms mingle with coastline of Victoria, they discover that and prizes for the novels A Private Man and language that is direct and visceral. The no matter how many thousands of Jamaica. Knox’s fifth novel, The Wonder minutiae of the woolshed and animal kilometres they put between themselves Lover, will further the author’s already behaviour are brought to life with skill and their transgressions, sometimes considerable reputation, especially as a and affection. there’s nowhere else to run. dauntless explorer of the inner lives of Sally Keighery is a freelance reviewer 8 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

GUILT Green Road is a testament to the wisdom time through Teddy’s eyes. We are also privy the eponymous Aron growing toward his Matt Nable of this decision. to his loves and disappointments, the choices teen years in Warsaw’s Jewish ghetto, made and bedded. The story is structured providing for his family through Viking. PB. $32.99 Bronte Coates is the digital content differently to Life After Life, but again there is smuggling and theft, his gang a ragtag Tommy is in love with coordinator for Readings no linear time line. Atkinson leaps from affair who are streetwise and not averse to Lani. Lani is going out decade to decade, from year to year: each violence to protect their interests. But with Paul. Paul is THE WOLF BORDER segment told with the grace necessary for Aron is pushed and pulled by many forces: having an affair with Sarah Hall illustrating the consequences of past the Gestapo, the Jewish police, his family, Julia, and Julia has a Faber. PB. $29.99 decisions as they present years later. the smugglers, and the brutal exigencies of crush on Chris. Life is In Sarah Hall’s Atkinson’s writing consistently illustrates the life under German rule. Balancing these intoxicating when fifth novel The vulnerability of humanity through familiar forces is a difficult task for a sensitive boy, you’re about to turn Wolf Border, the central stories and it is this skill that secures her and Aron finds himself in deep trouble, eighteen and finish subject, the wolves that place as one of the most remarkable story alone and subject to the realities of Polish school. But something will begin the rewilding tellers of our time. A God in Ruins is a novel winter. goes terribly wrong for this group of of Britain, are rarely that can be read without Life after Life; the All this sounds grim – and it is an friends. One day they have the world at seen: ‘They are fleet or story is told as a companion rather than a astonishingly harsh world – but Aron is their feet. The next, they are all divided, lazy, moving through sequel. Nevertheless, your imagination will rendered with tenderness and depth and destined to carry their own versions of guilt their own tawny be richer for having both books by your bed. Shepard does not shy away from the dark into adulthood. What unfolds is an colourscape and humour in all of it. I found myself wiping agonising, incisive novel about loyalty and sleeping under logs – missable either way.’ Chris Gordon is the events manager for away tears alternately from laughter and jealousy, about the possibilities of youth As Rachel Caine, zoologist and wolf expert Readings sadness, and re-reading sections for the and the weariness of middle age. Guilt is a says, for the wolf to truly be wild, human precision and beauty of the prose. When heartbreaking examination of friendship, engagement must be absent. Summoned EARLY WARNING Aron finds a place at the orphanage of luck and the elusive nature of redemption. home to Cumbria to entertain a rich man’s Jane Smiley doctor Janusz Korczak, an advocate for whimsy and see her dying mother, Rachel PanMac. PB. $29.99 children’s rights, Shepard brings greater returns to an England whose ‘interior $26.99 moral depth to the suffering and elevates International Fiction routes move sluggishly’ as a lone wolf Last year I had what is already a richly observed historical herself, separate and wary of others, the privilege to piece. This is a masterful work, clinical in determined to remain only tenuously THE GREEN ROAD review Some Luck by its detail and unflinching in its depiction connected. As she seeks to reintroduce the Jane Smiley, the first of human cruelty. But it is much more Anne Enright grey wolf to Cumbria she reluctantly book in her Last too, as a portrayal of our capacity for Jonathan Cape. PB. Was $32.99 reintroduces herself. Hundred Years trilogy. I ingenuity, for survival, and, ultimately, to $27.99 Sarah Hall has written a novel in which enjoyed it so much, I’ve love unconditionally no matter the horrors The latest novel at every moment life is happening, robust been eagerly awaiting foisted upon us. I loved this book so much, from Man Booker and fecund, bursting out of the landscape her second instalment I sincerely hope you all do too. Prize-winning author of Cumbria and Rachel herself. Whether ever since. Fortunately, Anne Enright is a describing the scent of her dying mother it didn’t take too long to appear. Robbie Egan is Readings’ operations manager gorgeously raw and Binny, ‘the reek of sweat and ammonia – Smiley’s trilogy spans several expansive examination not the Paestum Rose Binny once favoured, generations of the Langdons, a farming THE MOUNTAIN STORY of the Madigan family. gifted by suitors and worn high in the wen family from Iowa. Some Luck told the Lori Lansens Sprawling thirty years, of her thighs’ or the climb to the peak of story of Walter, his wife, Rosanna, and Simon & Schuster. PB. $29.99 The Green Road a mountain that ‘does not sit in isolation their children. In Early Warning, the On the anniversary of follows the four from its range, but is independent; its heavy children have grown up and had children the day his best friend, children as they leave their childhood arms plunge down and away,’ the detail is of their own, creating a much larger cast of Byrd, had a tragic home on Ireland’s Atlantic coast for new inexorably immersive, brutal yet wistful. characters. At first this made for difficult accident on the lives and new countries. Years later, when In this manner the novel progresses, and, reading – I had trouble remembering who mountain which had their mother Rosaleen decides to sell the while much happens, plot is not the primary was who and had to keep referring back been their paradise home, the family return for a last driver of the narrative. The plot I could to the family tree at the front of the book. and escape, Wolf Truly Christmas. sum up in a few lines about the return to Eventually, as I found myself caught up in reaches for the summit I first came across Enright’s work northern England of the wolves eradicated the rhythm of Smiley’s wonderful writing, again with the at university and I credit her with more than 500 years before, of the zoologist the characters became more familiar. intention of not prompting my ongoing love affair with who will manage their return, and the Earl Like its predecessor, this second novel coming home. But Wolf meets three contemporary Irish fiction. These who wants to form a vast wild park. The way is a simple drama about everyday lives. It women in the cable car on the way up authors are often remembered for being in which these aims and elements intersect begins in 1953, with the funeral of Walter, from Palm Springs and finds himself bleak and beautiful, and Enright’s writing with the vote for Scottish independence the patriarch of the family, and, as in the agreeing to help them get to a mountain is certainly both. In The Green Road, is intriguing and unexpected, and yet that first novel, each chapter is another year told lake. As the weather suddenly the Madigans are engaged in personal is not what I loved about this novel. What from the viewpoint of various members of deteriorates, the group is stranded on a struggles that are at once intimate and remains with me is the scent of the iron and the family. The story has shifted from the lethal ridge as the lights of the city universal: one daughter has a child and minerals under an Earth that was once wild, farm and sprawled across America, as family twinkle below, so close and yet so a drinking problem; one son struggles to a place I have never been except for the 400 members take up different occupations terrifyingly far away. Those who will come to terms with his homosexuality pages I just spent in it. and settle on the east coast or in major survive the ordeal will do so through a amid the AIDS crisis of the 1980s midwestern cities. In telling the story of mixture of bravery, determination and Marie Matteson is from Readings Carlton and 1990s in New York. Yet there is their lives, Smiley gives us an insight into self-revelation. a brashness in Enright’s writing that A GOD IN RUINS the events that shaped American history, sets her apart from my other favourite from the mid-50s through to the mid-80s IN THE NIGHT OF TIME Kate Atkinson Irish authors (such as Colm Tóibín and – the Cold War, fear of the atomic bomb, Antonio Munoz Molina Sebastian Barry) and she has a special Doubleday. PB. Was $32.99 assassinations, the Vietnam war and the Tuskar Rock. HB. $35 place on my bookshelf. $27.99 AIDs epidemic, to name a few. Although October 1936. Spanish Enright’s portrayal of a big family Life After Life is I didn’t like some of the characters as architect Ignacio Abel is perfectly pitched as she renders the one of my much this time round, Early Warning is an arrives at Penn Station, ebbs and flows of their dynamics – their favourite books of all engaging story nonetheless and I’m looking the final stop on his betrayals and grudges, their love – in time, so it was with forward to the third book immensely. journey from war-torn sharp detail. In her understanding of her some trepidation that I Sharon Peterson is from Readings Carlton Madrid, where he has characters’ failings she is both piercing approached A God in left behind his wife and and generous, while in her depictions of Ruins. I was rewarded THE BOOK OF ARON children, abandoning the tiny moments that make up their lives with feelings of Jim Shepard them to uncertainty. she is both arch and melancholic. As the foolishness: after all, Quercus. PB. $29.99. Available 12 May Crossing the fragile Madigans’ lives break apart and come with Atkinson you are I’ve been waiting borders of Europe, he reflects on months of together, Enright moves between their in skilled hands. There is no need to doubt for a Jim Shepard fratricidal conflict in his embattled country, different perspectives (in the second whether Atkinson can hold her own with a novel since Project X, his own transformation from a bricklayer’s half of the book, she sometimes does this fresh take on the tale of the Todd family. She his searing portrait of son to a respected bourgeois husband and within a single paragraph) and bypasses is a magnificent writer, and A God in Ruins is misfit boys and their professional, and the all-consuming love years with a single page turn. This a beautifully structured novel with a ultimately violent affair with an American woman that structure creates a sense of breathless breathtaking narrative. Atkinson continues reaction to their forever alters his life. A rich, panoramic urgency. You can’t help but feel that you the story of the Todd family but from the isolation. The Book of portrait of Spain on the brink of civil war, In too are in the thick of it with the family. perspective of Ursula’s younger brother, Aron continues with the the Night of Time details the passions and Enright was appointed Ireland’s very first Teddy. As in Ursula’s story, we encounter the misfit boy theme, with tragedies of a country tearing itself apart. Fiction Laureate earlier this year and The war and the Todd family’s eccentricities, this A GOD IN RUINS QUICKSAND THE ANCHORESS Kate Atkinson Steve Toltz Robyn Cadwallader Doubleday. PB. Was $32.99 Hamish Hamilton. PB. Was $32.99 HarperCollins. PB. Was $32.99 $27.99 $29.99 $27.99 ‘Atkinson is a magnificent ‘Those awaiting another ‘A deeply interesting examination writer and A God in Ruins is a dose of fierce iconoclasm and of madness, faith, grief, anger beautifully structured novel with dark-peppered wit will not be and freedom. This is a debut a breathtaking narrative.’ disappointed. Toltz has given us Australian novel that sets itself – Chris Gordon something brilliant to marvel at apart from its peers.’ again.’ – Nina Kenwood – Luke May

THE GREEN ROAD THE GIRL ON THE EARLY WARNING Anne Enright TRAIN Jane Smiley Jonathan Cape. PB. Was $32.99 Paula Hawkins Mantle. PB. Was $29.99 $27.99 Doubleday. PB. Was $32.99 $26.99 ‘Enright was appointed Ireland’s $27.99 ‘I found myself caught up in the very first Fiction Laureate ‘There are Gone Girl rhythm of Smiley’s wonderful earlier this year and The Green comparisons to be made here. But writing ... and I’m looking Road is a testament to the The Girl on the Train [has] a forward to the third book wisdom of this decision.’ building, inescapable tension that immensely.’ – Bronte Coates Hawkins handles superbly, until – Sharon Peterson we aren’t really sure we want to know what happened at all.’ – The Observer

THE GOOD GREEK PICNIC IN BUY ME THE SKY GIRL PROVENCE Xinran Maria Katsonis Elizabeth Bard Rider. PB. Was $39.99 Jane Curry. PB. Was $32.95 HarperCollins. PB. Was $29.99 $27.99 $27.95 $24.99 ‘Xinran’s accounts reveal Signed copies while stocks last! ‘Like the Provençal food and a generation of Chinese so ‘The quality of Katsonis’ writing is lifestyle it celebrates, Bard’s book mollycoddled by parents terrified superb. She demonstrates a playful is one to be savoured slowly and something might happen to them sense of humour despite the gravity with care. Delectable reading.’ that they don’t know how to live of her topic. A must for anyone who – Kirkus Reviews independently.’ enjoys books about relationships – Stuff.co.nz between migrant parents and their Australian-born children.’ – Annie Condon MOTHERS & HERETIC HELLO, BEAUTIFUL OTHERS Ayaan Hirsi Ali Hannie Rayson Natalie Kon-yu, Maya Linden, HarperCollins. PB. Was $29.99 Text. PB. Was $29.99 Christie Nieman, Maggie $24.99 Scott & Miriam Sved (eds) $26.99 ‘In urging Muslims to reform Macmillan. PB. Was $32.99 Signed copies while stocks last! their religion … Hirsi Ali poses $27.99 ‘Bursting with witty anecdotes challenging questions, and she is and intelligent insights. Rayson ‘... so much more than just fearless in using shock tactics to writes with warmth and candour “another book about mothering”. jump-start a conversation. There about the extraordinary moments The pieces are short and sharp, is no denying that her words are in everyday life and draws highlighting the sometimes brave.’ you, like an old friend, into her suffocating cultural pressures of – The New York Times personal and creative world.’ being or not being a mum.’ – Emily Harms – Kara Nicholson

Free delivery for all orders over $19.95 and free gift wrapping! If the delivery address is within the Melbourne metropolitan area, please place your online order by 5pm, Monday 4 May to receive your parcel by Mother's Day. If the delivery address is outside the metropolitan Melbourne area, we cannot guarantee your online order will be received by Mother's Day. READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

| Fiction | Crime Fiction

THE LIFE OF VILLA AMERICA HUSH HUSH HOUSES Liza Klaussman Laura Lippman Lisa Gorton Picador. PB. $29.99 Faber. PB. $29.99 Giramondo. PB. $26.95 ‘Her prose manages to be both ‘Many readers will rejoice ‘Gorton’s prose is beautiful, full reflective and entertaining at the return of Tess: of a melancholy imagery. This is ... Klaussmann does identify resourceful, unpretentious, a very fine debut [novel].’ the fusion of veneration and as perfectly vivid a – Mark Rubbo and neediness, cruelty and character as her beloved exhibitionism that defined Le Baltimore.’ Gilded Generation in the South – Fiona Hardy of France.’ – Independent

THE ADVENTURES DEPT. OF OF HOLLY SPECULATION THE LADY WHITE & THE Jenny Offill FROM ZAGREB INCREDIBLE SEX Granta. PB. $19.99 Philip Kerr Quercus. PB. Was $29.99 MACHINE ‘In her mastery of narrative voice, $26.99 Krissy Kneen in maintaining a tight structure Text. PB. $29.99 that nevertheless gives itself room ‘A+ and a gold star to Kerr ‘A very sexy Sci-Fi–erotica for interpolations … Offill’s Dept. ... another tale following hybrid, with an inspired, of Speculation is a triumph on a deliciously cynical detective Cronenbergian premise.’ small scale but in a major key.’ Bernie Gunther.’ – Fiona Hardy – Jemima Bucknell – Sydney Morning Herald

A SPOOL OF BLUE ADELINE: A WOLF WINTER NOVEL OF THREAD Cecilia Ekback Anne Tyler VIRGINIA WOOLF Hodder & Staughton. PB. Chatto & Windus. PB. Norah Vincent $29.99 Little, Brown. PB. $29.99 Was $32.99 $27.99 ‘Maija is a female ‘A lovely, although somewhat ‘Tyler strips back the facades of protagonist so organically melancholy, novel … Vincent various family myths, fictions heroic that she seems not at successfully transports the of the kind that many families all out of place in these long- reader to a world of English construct to paper over tensions past times. I was up until country houses where great … utterly engrossing, enjoyable 3am reading this haunting literary and intellectual and, at times, illuminating.’ thriller.’ – Mark Rubbo discussions take place.’ – Fiona Hardy – Sharon Peterson

THE FIRST BAD THE LITTLE PARIS MAN BOOKSHOP MEDEA’S CURSE Miranda July Nina George Anne Buist Canongate. PB. $24.99 Little, Brown. PB. Text. PB. $29.99 ‘The turns The First Bad Man Was $29.99 $24.99 ‘Forensic psychiatrist Natalie takes are hard to predict and keep ‘A charming novel that believes King is an excellent badass: raising the stakes. July’s ability in the healing properties of tearing up to her offices on to present us with the mundane fiction, romance, and a summer a Ducati, ready and willing and then surprise us is her forté, in the south of France.’ with help for the helpless and and it makes for a very funny and – Kirkus Reviews cutting remarks for those oddly heartfelt book.’ who deserve them.’ – Chris Somerville – Fiona Hardy

THE NOVEL ORIENT GUN STREET HABITS OF Christopher Bollen GIRL HAPPINESS Simon & Schuster. PB. $29.99 Adrian McKinty Alexander McCall Smith ‘A dark and pacy read complete Serpent’s Tail. PB. $29.99 Little, Brown. PB. $29.99 with haunting characters ‘... fun, shocking, grim, as ‘If you are a fan of the Isabel and tragic suspense. I highly addictive as cocaine filched Dalhousie novels then you will recommend getting absorbed in from the evidence room, and delight in Alexander McCall this sinister plot.’ wonderful ... one of the very Smith’s latest addition to the – Emily Harms few new crime books that is series. The tenth fabulous story completely devoid of sexual … will leave you wanting more.’ assault, and for that I give it –Culture Street a round of sincere, heartfelt applause.’ – Fiona Hardy READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

| Non-fi ction

IF SHE DID IT FALLEN BLOODHOUND Jessica Treadway Rochelle Siemienowicz Ramona Koval Sphere. PB. $29.99 Affirm Press. PB. $24.99 Text. PB. $32.99 ‘Memory loss in books ‘Although in many ways a Signed copies while stocks last! often feels contrived, but thematic companion to Lee ‘Her [Koval’s] accessibly written Treadway’s skill as an author Kofman’s The Dangerous forays into the science of DNA never makes it feel cheap. Bride, Fallen focuses less on and familial lineages, and This is a stay-up-late, stare- investigating the phenomenon what makes us who we are, are at-your–child-suspiciously- of non-monogamy than on an beautifully intertwined with the-next-day thriller’ intimate portrayal of a personal her meditations on identity and – Fiona Hardy crisis and process of self-discovery.’ belonging.’ – Alan Vaarwerk – Books+Publishing

THE PORT MOTHER ONE LIFE FAIRY MORPHOSIS Kate Grenville MURDERS Monica Dux (ed.) Text. HB. $29.99 Robert Gott MUP. PB. $27.99 Signed copies while stocks last! Scribe, PB, $29.99 ‘These essays are intimate; I felt ‘This story becomes more than ‘A double murder occurs that as though I was there with the an elegy to a mother; it is an ode homicide initially consider storytellers, in their own homes to our own past.’ cut and dry, but it’s not or hovering beside the midwives.’ – Chris Gordon like Robert Gott to make – Bronte Coates anything easy when it could instead be thrilling.’ – Fiona Hardy

THE TRUTH FROM INDIA WITH A TABLE IN THE AND OTHER LOVE ORCHARD LIES Latika Bourke Michelle Crawford Sascha Arango A&U. PB. $24.99 Ebury. PB. $34.99 Text. PB. $29.99 ‘An inspiring and heartwarming ‘Think River Cottage, but ‘A marvellous book, the story of family love and finding from a woman’s perspective: kind that never lets you get your place in the world.’ how-to guide, memoir and oh comfortable enough to let – Deborra-lee Furness how I wish that was me! One you think you know what’s for those who think this only happening.’ happens in the movies!’ – Fiona Hardy – Chris Gordon

GIRL IN A BAND THE INVISIBLE SHE’S HAVING A Kim Gordon MAN FROM LAUGH Faber. PB. $29.99 SALEM 25 of Australia’s Funniest ‘... every subject is handled with Christoffer Carlsson Women on Life, Love and careful introspection, detail and Scribe. PB. $32.99 Comedy real feeling. We’re in Gordon’s Affirm Press. PB. $29.99 ‘This is a gripping and highly head as she figures out the world enjoyable read with the kind ‘These stories are hilarious and around her.’ of unreliable hero you can’t heartwarming, I could not put –The New York Times help but follow desperately, this book down!’ excitedly around.’ – Lisa Dean – Fiona Hardy

MOTHERHOOD & DEATH IN THE BETWEEN YOU & CREATIVITY RAINY SEASON ME Rachel Power Anna Jaquiery Mary Norris Affirm Press. PB. $24.99 Mantle. PB. $29.99 Text. PB. $29.99 ‘Power’s bite-size interviews ‘A ground-level investigation ‘If you like words, language or are easy to dip in and out of, in a vividly rendered puzzles, this is the book for you and she captures nicely the landscape … Death in the – or that friend or mother who intimate, conversational tone Rainy Season is a mystery always corrects you.’ of her interlocutors … another soaked in both downpours – Mark Rubbo important reminder that and atmosphere – and an women’s work matters.’ intelligent character piece.’ – Books+Publishing – Fiona Hardy READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

| Art & Design | Food & Wine

TIE DIP DYE LIBERTY STYLE THE RIVER Pepa Martin & Karen Davis Martin Wood COTTAGE Craftsman House. PB. $24.99 Frances Lincoln. HB. $59.99 AUSTRALIA ‘A fantastic guide to get you ‘This beautiful illustrated history COOKBOOK started in creating your own captures the mystique and Paul West hand-dyed and hand-crafted glamour of Liberty style, a love Bloomsbury. HB. $45 fabric pieces. It features step- of which I inherited from my Featuring recipes from the first by-step instructions for fabric, mother. It’s also the fascinating three TV series of River Cottage tool and colour choices; dyes, story of a 19th century retailer Australia, this cookbook reveals dye recipes and methods; and 12 with the vision to take a risk.’ the delicious dishes Paul West inspiring projects.’ – Margaret Snowdon has been creating on the farm. – Miranda La Fleur

FREE FREE GIFT CLOTHBOUND PEOPLE OF THE GIFT THE NEW NORDIC Julie Paterson TWENTY-FIRST Simon Bajada Murdoch. HB. $59.99 CENTURY Hardie Grant. HB. $49.95 FREE tote bag with purchase! Hans Eijkelboom FREE apron with purchase! ‘We all loved Julie Paterson & David Carrier (trans.) Discover the flavours of and her minimal, beautiful and Phaidon. PB. $45 true Scandinavian cuisine natural designs when they came ‘This is an enormous and matched with stunning location into the shop. This is an intimate completely fascinating photography. This cookbook is insight into her creative process collection of ‘anti-sartorial’ a feast for all the senses. and the sense of place that is an photographs of street life by the integral part of it.’ renowned Dutch conceptual – Margaret Snowdon artist and street photographer.’ – Margaret Snowdon

ENCORE: THE CRAFT FOR THE MY NEW ROOTS NEW ARTISANS SOUL Sarah Britton Olivier Dupon Pip Lincolne Macmillan. HB. $44.99 T&H. HB. $55 Viking. HB. $35 Based on Sarah Britton’s ‘I loved the first volume and Signed copies while stocks last! healthy-eating blog, My New this one maybe more. It’s ‘Crafting along with Pip Roots is packed with over 100 great to see people from all Lincolne is like hanging out simple, healthy and mouth- around the world using their with your best friend and watering vegetarian recipes. hands to make wonderful stitching something cute while objects. This inspiring knocking back a nice cuppa and collection is full of people and a bikkie.’ things to admire.’ –Frankie – Margaret Snowdon

THE SKETCHBOOK SANDCASTLES MR WILKINSON’S PROJECT: Tim Neve SIMPLY DRESSED WORLD TOUR Murdoch. HB. $49.99 SALADS Steven Peterman ‘Interior designer and stylist Matt Wilkinson & Sara Elands Peterman Tim Neve explores the Hardie Grant. HB. $49.95 Princeton. PB. $52.95 timelessness of coastal style. His This book follows the seasons ‘The Project started in New desire is to reclaim a feeling of and is filled with 52 stunning York as an online project: order authenticity, and I found in these salad recipes that are meals a sketchbook, fill it in and send pages memories of holidays, in themselves or fantastic it back to the Brooklyn Art simple beach shacks, driftwood, accompaniments. Library. A collective, global, shells and a salty breeze.’ sharing experience – lovely.’ – Margaret Snowdon – Margaret Snowdon

THE KITCHEN BJÖRK MARGARET AND ART STUDIO ARCHIVES ME Peter Jenny Klaus Biesenbach, Alex Kate Gibbs Princeton. PB. $22.95 Ross & Nicola Dibben & Margaret Fulton ‘This delightful little book is T&H. HB. $80 Murdoch. HB. $39.99 an ode to all who like to build ‘This beautifully designed Food writer Kate Gibbs reveals sculptures out of the washed slipcase focuses on Björk’s seven the highs and lows from the dishes, admire the shapes made major albums. It’s a celebration life of her extraordinary when peeling a grapefruit, and of the diverse contributions to grandmother, Margaret Fulton, any number of other vegetable music, video, film, fashion and along with their shared kitchen interactions that bring out your art Björk has had on a generation wisdom and 50 beautifully inner artist.’ worldwide. This truly is the photographed family recipes. – Margaret Snowdon greatest gift for any Björk fan!’ – Emily Harms READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

| Music

ALICE’S FOOD A–Z MELBOURNE’S SHORT MOVIE Alice Zaslavsky WOMEN OF Laura Marling Walker. PB. $19.95 SOUL $21.95 Packed with clever cooking tips Various and kid-friendly recipes, this $19.95 ‘Marling’s new sound evokes book from former MasterChef ‘... this line up is enough to get the strange dark thrill of low contestant and host of TV quiz any soul fan salivating and skies before a storm … Short show Kitchen Whiz is for the feeling a little weak kneed’ Movie is a masterpiece.’ fact-hungry and food obsessed. –Declan Murphy – The Telegraph (UK)

THE HAPPY WILDER MIND SOUND & COOKBOOK Mumford & Sons COLOR Lola Berry $21.95 Alabama Shakes Plum. PB. $34.99 ‘‘Mumford & Sons’ shift $21.95 Lola Berry’s recipes are fresh, into synthesizers, drum ‘Sound & Color is a bold vibrant and based around loops, electric guitars … step forward … [Brittany nutritionally dense wholefoods doesn’t sound like a radical Howard’s] voice conveys that will make you glow with departure as much as a way the world-weary grain of a good health, inside and out. to expand their emotional lifetime of love and loss, pain and musical palette.’’ and grief ... this is music rising – LA Times from the pit of the soul.’ – Daily Review

VULNICURA COMING THE MAGIC SOUP Björk FORTH BY DAY Nicole Pisani $19.95 Cassandra Wilson & Kate Adams ‘Vulnicura is loosely $21.95 Orion. HB. $45.00 arranged around the ‘Radically reinterpreting, with Soup’s versatility and health chronology of a relationship … characteristic confidence and benefits are captured in Magic it’s simultaneously her most nonconformity, the [Billie] Soup which features over 100 mature feat of arranging and Holiday canon, Coming innovative recipes to help you to almost psychosomatically Forth by Day is a loving but feel fuller and become healthier. affecting.’’ sombre affair.’ – Pitchfork – Wall Street Journal

CARRIE & VIVALDI THE FRENCH LOWELL Avi Avital BAKER Sufjan Stevens DG. 4794017. $24.95 Jean Michel Raynaud $19.95 ‘Mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital Murdoch. HB. Was $59.99 makes a strong case for the $49.99 ‘Both overwhelming and rock-star possibilities of his From a master patissier comes understated: melodies instrument. The exuberance an inspirational and practical match sentiment with … is infectious.’ guide to delicious French-style perfect judgment ... a delight – Sinfini Music baking in the home kitchen. in every way, surely one of the albums of the year.’ – The Guardian

SOMETIMES I SIT THE COMPLETE THE GOURMET AND THINK, AND RECITALS FARMER GOES SOMETIMES I Emma Kirkby FISHING JUST SIT Decca. 4787863. 12 CDs. Matthew Evans, Nick $79.95 Haddow & Ross O’Meara Courtney Barnett $19.95 Murdoch. HB. Was $49.99 ‘Kirkby has enjoyed $39.99 ‘Full of Barnett’s unmatched success as an Food-critic-turned-farmer and trademark wordplay and early music practitioner in sustainable-seafood activist stark observations … it’s the 20th and 21st centuries, Matthew Evans shows us how everything this fan of and this new collection seafood should be cooked and the Melbourne singer– from Decca is a wonderful may even inspire you to catch songwriter could hope for.’ celebration of her career.’ your own dinner. – Alan Vaarwerk – Alexandra Mathew READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

| Film & TV

NATIONAL THE FALL: HOMELAND: GALLERY SERIES 2 SEASON 4 $24.95 $29.95 $44.95 ‘This is a typically engrossing ‘Those looking for an ‘The show has returned to and insightful study of the atmospheric, brooding, slow- its roots as an espionage day-to-day running of a great paced psychological study will thriller, in part by taking an institution by the master of find many rewards.’ unsentimental view of its observational documentary.’ – The AV Club heroine’s worst behaviour.’ – Empire – The New Yorker

BROADCHURCH: THE LEGACY THE COLLECTED SERIES 2 $59.95 WORKS OF $39.95 ‘A refreshing change HAYAO MIYAZAKI ‘It’s a pleasure to revisit this from gloomy, rain-lashed $274.95 cast and to once again share Copenhagen-based policework, ‘... for adults who want to both the pain of this English The Legacy gives a valuable recapture a childlike mindset as village and the scenic glory of glimpse into open-plan, much as for children.’ its seaside setting.’ middleclass life.’’ – The Guardian – USA Today – The Guardian

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SMALL IS DEATH COMES FORCE MAJEURE TO PEMBERLEY BEAUTIFUL $29.95 $44.95 $19.95 ‘The most emotionally gripping ‘A “Pride and Prejudice” ‘We’re spoilt for choice as experience I’ve had in a sequel/murder mystery that viewers ... the range of quality cinema thus far this year has has the extra advantage material makes stumbling been in [this] masterpiece by of being perfectly cast and across a truly special film that young Swedish director Ruben extremely entertaining, even much more exciting. Small is Ostlund … Every scene is for those who might need a Beautiful is one of those extra perfect.’ Jane Austen refresher course.’ special films.’ – ABC Radio – Variety – Stella Charls READINGS MONTHLY MOTHER'S DAY MAY 2015

MODERN Italian inspired dishes. Beautifully FLASH BOYS your brain when you read a good book? ARCHITECTURE designed and filled with detailed step- Michael Lewis In this collection of lively and provocative SINCE 1900 by-step photography, this cookbook will HB. Was $39.99 pieces he talks about what readers William J. R. Curtis become an invaluable go-to and recipe Now $15.95 want from books and how to look at the favourite. literature we encounter in a new light. PB. Was $55 Michael Lewis’ bestseller Now $29.95 tells the outrageous story AVEDON of the multi-millionaires EM AND THE Since its first WOMEN and whiz kids who scammed the banking BIG HOOM publication in 1982, Modern Architecture Joan Juliet system in the blink of an eye – and the Jerry Pinto Since 1900 has become a contemporary Buck whistleblowers who tried to stop them. HB. Was $35.00 classic. Worldwide in scope, technical, HB. Was $160.00 It’s the story of declaring war on some Now $13.95 economic, social and intellectual Now $49.95 of the richest and most powerful people In a one-bedroom- developments are brought together in a Over his sixty-year career, photographer in the world and of the madness that has hall-kitchen in Mahim, comprehensive narrative which presents taken hold of the financial markets today. Richard Avedon was renowned for his Bombay, through a penetrating analysis of the modern distinctive, transformative eye. Women the last decades of tradition and its origins. THE MIND’S EYE were often his subject, through his the twentieth century, lived four love- Oliver Sacks fashion work for Harper’s Bazaar and battered Mendeses: mother, father, son MODERN PB. Was $25 Vogue and in his portraiture of both and daughter. Between Em, the mother, ITALIAN FOOD Now $12.95 driven frequently to hospital after her the famous and the unknown. What Stefano de Pieri failed suicide attempts, and the Big Hoom, might have been pictured as prosaic How does the brain HB. Was $39.95 the father, trying to hold things together as or unattractive through another perceive and interpret Now $16.95 best he could, they tried to be a family. photographer’s lens was presented by information from the Offering recipes with Avedon as unconventional and surprising. eye? And what happens when the process roots from the old world and the New, is disrupted? Oliver Sacks tells the stories THE EDGE OF THE WORLD this cookbook tempts and encourages THE SEX LIVES of people who are able to navigate the the domestic cook. With his lively prose OF SIAMESE world and communicate with others Michael Pye HB. Was $49.99 and accessible recipes, it also features a TWINS despite losing what many of us consider comprehensive section on Italian wine, indispensable senses and abilities. Now $19.95 Irvine Welsh cheese, and preserves perfect for creating The Edge of the World is PB. Was $45 both old world, northern-Italian dishes FALLING an epic adventure: from Now $16.95 and modern ones using regional produce. FREELY, AS IF IN the Vikings to the Enlightenment. When Clinical obesity, murder, A DREAM the Roman Empire retreated, northern conjoined twins, and huge servings of TASTE OF Leif G. W. Persson Europe was a barbarian outpost at the food, sex and filthy language: it’s an Irvine GREECE PB. Was $32.99 very edge of everything. A thousand Welsh novel! When Lucy Brennan disarms Lyndey Milan Now $10 years later, it was the heart of global an apparently crazed gunman HB. Was $39.95 From the grand master of empires and the home of science, art, Now $16.95 chasing two frightened enlightenment and money. homeless men along a Scandinavian crime Taste of Greece deserted causeway at fiction – and one of the celebrates the cuisine, THE GOLDEN night, she becomes a best crime writers culture and beautifully undiscovered WARRIOR hero. Her celebrity is of our time – a new land of the Peloponnese. While the Lawrence James short-lived, though: critically acclaimed cuisine of this area has a starring role, PB. Was $29.95 the ‘crazed gunman’ novel centred the historic heart of Greece is not Now $12 turns out to be around the unsolved overlooked as ancient sites are explored During the 1920s, T. a victim of child murder of Swedish with an adventurous edge, full of E. Lawrence gained sexual abuse and the Prime Minister Olof humour and insight. global attention, two men are serial Palme in 1986, a case both for his involvement in the Middle paedophiles. that has all but gone URBAN cold. Sharply detailed Eastern anti-imperialist movement, and SANCTUARY THE and boldly plotted, Persson’s for his sensational writings about his Janine Mendel REPUBLIC work lifts the veil on one of experiences. This revised and updated edition of James’s acclaimed biography HB. Was $59.95 OF history’s greatest unsolved crimes in a Now $16.95 traces the sometimes spurious Lawrence IMAGINATION novel that goes toe-to-toe with the best of Australians love to be true crime books. legend back to its truthful roots to reveal Azar Nafisi outdoors, but with the the gifted, tortured man behind the PB. Was $35 population set to rise, we will be left with A SINGULAR shimmering myth. Now $12 smaller and smaller outdoor spaces in VISION: HARRY which to enjoy our way of life. This book From the author of the bestselling SEIDLER SPANISH will inspire the reader to see what can be memoir Reading Lolita in Tehran comes Helen O’Neill FLAVOURS a powerful and passionate case for the created in restricted spaces. HB. Was $49.99 José Pizarro vital role of fiction. Blending memoir Now $15.95 HB. Was $59.95 and polemic with close readings of Now $19.95 THE ANCIENT Harry Seidler, a stylish, decisive and her favourite novels, she invites us to PATHS highly opinionated man, was a key figure In Spanish Flavours, join her as citizens of her ‘Republic Graham Robb in international modern architecture Pizarro journeys across Spain, collecting of Imagination’, a country where the his favourite regional ingredients to PB. Was $29.99 and in the establishment of post-war villains are conformity and orthodoxy. combine into stylish dishes that are easy Now $10.00 modern design in Australia. He emerged to recreate at home. He celebrates the as Australia’s pre-eminent architect, the When Graham Robb TIME: SECRETS classic Spanish dishes, but also focuses made plans to cycle the OF GENIUS man who effectively shaped the look on his twists on classics and modern of modern, urban Australia. A lavishly legendary Via Heraklea, Time Magazine interpretations, adding his flair and he had no idea that the line he plotted illustrated, stylish and beautifully designed HB. Was $55 passion to every recipe. book, this is a celebration of one man’s was an ancient path that took him Now $29.95 deep into the world of the Celts: their extraordinary life and achievements. Da Vinci, Einstein, COLLECTED gods, their art, and, most of all, their STORIES Jobs: even as we admire the outsized WHERE I’M sophisticated knowledge of science. nature of their contributions to James Salter civilisation, such exceptionally gifted READING HB. Was $39.99 NEW people provoke us to ask: what are FROM Now $15.95 CLASSICS the wellsprings of genius? How is it Tim Parks From his first published Philippa Sibley acquired? What are its hallmarks, its PB. Was $29.99 story in 1968, Salter’s HB. Was $49.95 drawbacks, its surprising side-effects? Now $10 work has been universally acclaimed. Now $16.95 Now Time magazine’s editors profile Should you finish every Each indelible narrative in Collected A must-have cookbook history’s most gifted and inventive book you start? How has Stories is marked by Salter’s great literary with detailed humans and explore the work of your family influenced the way you read? grace, his ability to show the subtleties of a scientists who are using advanced guides to recipe basics and Philippa’s What is literary style? Is writing really character or situation with precision, and technologies in their attempts to isolate reinterpretation of classic French and just like any other job? What happens to to command shocking reversals of fortune. and quantify the nature of genius itself. MEMORABLE MOTHERS 1 2 IN LITERATURE 3 4 ACROSS 5 6 1 Henny is both mother and stepmother in which novel by Christina Stead? (3, 3, 3, 5, 8) 7 8

9 3 Which radish-loving son was given chamomile tea by his mother when he was 10 11 12 feeling poorly? (5, 6)

7 By what name is escaped stepmother Lula 13 14 Mae Barnes better known in her new life in New York? (5, 9)

8 A backyard incident involving Rosie’s child is 15 16 the beginning of a significant disagreement in which bestselling Australian book? (3, 4) 17 10 Which London-based mother created by an Australian author is the employer of a famous nanny? (3, 5) 18

11 Mrs Wormwood is the mother of which 19 library-frequenting Roald Dahl character? (7)

12 Who is a mother figure to the Lost Boys? (5) 20 15 In which much-loved children’s classic does a mother clash with her adopted daughter over puffed sleeves? (4, 2, 4, 6) 21

17 In which novel by Alexis Wright does Aunty Bella Donna pull a young Oblivia from the hollow of a tree? (3, 4, 4) DOWN 18 Among Jane Austen’s characters, who is 2 Which stepmother was put in charge of a 9 What special name do the March girls – Meg, particularly prone to an attack of nerves brood of seven and described as ‘only twenty Jo, Beth and Amy – have for their mother? (6) when things don’t go her way? (3, 6) – just a lovely, laughing-faced girl’? (6, 7) 13 Which grandmother uses bush magic to 19 Jane is the first adopted daughter of 4 Who plays the mother of a disturbing child make her granddaughter invisible? (7, 4) which glamorous and intrepid Melbourne in the film adaptation of We Need to Talk detective? (6, 6) About Kevin? (5, 7) 14 Which magical mother keeps her numerous children well-supplied with hand-knitted 20 In which Australian classic did Bel Bel teach 5 In which classic tale did a mother leave all jumpers bearing their first initials? (5, 7) her son everything she knew about the 514 of her babies in the care of her dear ways of man and how to survive in the high friend, a pig? (10, 3) 16 Which Scottish mother finds herself country? (3, 6, 6) preoccupied with spots after taking drastic 6 Which stepmother shares her name with a action? (4, 7) 21 Which mother does not have a good time at gemstone and enjoys communing with nature the Red Wedding? (7, 5) in the English countryside in the 1930s? (5)

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The Strays is like a gemstone: 2015 polished and multifaceted, reflecting winner illuminations back to the reader and THE STRAYS holding rich colour in its depths. by Emily Bitto The 2015 Stella Prize judging panel www.thestellaprize.com.au READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 17

New Crime Dead Write with Fiona Hardy

Crime Book of the Month

THE TRUTH AND OTHER LIES Sascha Arango Text. PB. $29.99 Claus Moreany’s publishing house is on the verge of going under when his distractingly beautiful employee Betty discovers unknown author Henry Hayden’s manuscript in a pile. Frank Ellis becomes a runaway bestseller, subsequent books sell millions, and Hayden becomes a wealthy man living in a beautiful Guilt starts off with a group of friends getting ready How do you bring creativity into your everyday life? house with his lovely wife, a sporty-looking dog and the magazine for an eighteenth birthday party. Life is exciting and This clever, cute, step-by-step guide will show you spreads to prove it. All is well until the day that Betty, who is not the world is at their feet. Jump forward twenty years practical ways to get the most out of your creativity his wife, tells him that she is pregnant with his child. Henry vows and they are all struggling with where they are at. and live the life you want. Crafter and blogger Where did it all go wrong? Something happened Pip Lincolne shares her lifetime of wisdom on fi nding to himself: it is time to tell Martha the truth. But Henry has never been a man to care at that party that changed their lives forever. things that spark excitement and passion. about things like the truth when a skewed version of events will suffice.

‘The Truth and Other Lies is a marvellous book, the kind that never lets you get comfortable enough to let you think you know what’s happening.’

The Truth and Other Lies is a marvellous book, the kind that never lets you get comfortable enough to let you think you know what’s happening – author Sascha Arango is always one step ahead of you, and his creation, Henry, is one calculated story away from reality. Being this wrong-footed is quite the delight, as is Hayden, smooth as aged whiskey but with as many secrets as a thirteen-year-old’s diary. I barely want to say more in case I spoil anything for you, but Arango’s icy prose and Germany’s sun-kissed seaside locale make for the perfect read as our own nights get longer, and as dark as Hayden himself. Robert Macfarlane brilliantly explores the linguistic Aldo has been so relentlessly unlucky – in business, and literary terrain of the British Isles in a book about in love, in life – that the universe seems to have taken the power of language to shape our sense of place. against him personally. What begins as a document of AFTER THE CRASH IN It is both a fi eld guide to the literature he loves and a Aldo’s disasters develops into a profound story of fate, Michel Bussi Natsuo Kirino ‘word-hoard’, gathering an astonishing archive faith and friendship; of taking risks in art, work, love and of place-terms. life; and fi nding inspiration in all the wrong places. Hachette. PB. $29.99 Harvill. PB. $32.95 In 1980, a plane In a month full of crashes into a delectable crime books mountainside in the that are about books penguin.com.au middle of the night, on themselves, the the way from Istanbul incredible, visceral to Paris. Out of the 169 Kirino weaves a story on board, 168 perish about a decades-old – and one survives, a novel about R, a three-month-old baby woman who tore apart girl. But when two her lover’s family and separate sets of paternal grandparents whose story was taken from her, – one rich and connected, one poor and fictionalised and made famous throughout sick – contact the hospital to check on her, Japan, the book’s author gaining fame and Love your mum the world is gripped by her story: a little fortune as the mysterious R remained quiet on the truth. When Tamaki, also a writer, girl no one can prove is their own. CRIME Eighteen years later, the private detective decides to search for the reality behind the hired to find the truth sits with a gun in book and R, her own life and the tangled front of his notes, no closer to a solution relationships in her past and present and ready to end his own life, when, cannot escape criticism. ‘Bad Seed is hard to beat.’ The Australian finally, the answer becomes obvious – and someone else beats him to the gunshot. THE LADY FROM ZAGREB Cato Kwong is back. This time Philip Kerr it’s personal. When Cato’s old DISCLAIMER Quercus. PB. Was $29.99 friend Francis Tan is murdered, Renée Knight $26.99 Cato fi nds himself in Shanghai confronting the killer – and the Random. PB. $32.99 Let’s face it, I almost ghosts of his own family history. Documentary made this Book of the filmmaker Catherine Month for the title and her husband alone: not ‘The Girl Robert, having from Zagreb’, but The downsized in the wake LADY from Zagreb. A+ MEMOIR of their adult son and a gold star then to leaving the nest, are in Kerr for the title and, the middle of sorting of course, for the book ‘a remarkable and moving story.’ out a house-worth of itself, another tale Professor Fiona Wood, AM mess and memories following deliciously cynical detective when Catherine starts reading the book at Bernie Gunther whose sardonic travels After the Battle of Britain, badly her bedside, A Perfect Stranger. It starts throughout Nazi Germany have entranced burnt airmen fi lled the childhood pleasantly enough, until she realises that the readers. With his ability to make historical home town of Liz Byrski. Now woman at the centre of the book is more Berlin and its surrounds seem real enough the bestselling novelist returns to uncover the secret history of the than familiar: it’s her, and the story is that of to be just beyond your front door, he nurses who saved our heroes. a long-ago holiday shrouded in danger that plumbs the past for a complex series of she hoped to forget, and a secret she was events, not least Gunther’s task of tracking planning never to disclose. So how did the down a highly desired actress’s missing Find us on Facebook @FremantlePress fremantlepress.com.au book get into her house – and who knows father in Zurich on the orders of none less her secret when the only witness is dead? than Joseph Goebbels himself. 18 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

New Non-Fiction deeply personal work. Fragments of BLOODHOUND: ‘sudden memoir’, predominately reflections SEARCHING FOR MY on growing up in a pre-9/11 America, are FATHER Book of the Month interspersed within a longer narrative – Mol as a twenty-something writer, who’s Ramona Koval just moved to Melbourne. He’s stumbling Text. PB. $32.99 BETWEEN YOU & ME: CONFESSIONS through life, plugging away in the KeepCup Ramona Koval’s parents OF A COMMA QUEEN warehouse to get by and pining for a girl he were Holocaust chats to online. He’s hopeful, he’s survivors who fled their Mary Norris overthinking everything and he wears his homeland and settled in Text. HB. $29.99 rapidly-beating heart firmly on his sleeve. Melbourne. As a child, Last night I went to I Gradi for pizza with my son. It was an Mol might be Australia’s answer to Koval learned little easy decision for Joe and me to make and we enjoyed the contemporary Alt Lit – he cites Steve about their lives – only pizzas very much. You, possibly, think I should have written ‘Joe Roggenbuck and Scott McClanahan as snippets from traumatic and I’. Well, that’s not correct. I know because I’ve just read stylistic influences and the striking cover tales. But she always Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris. design for Lion Attack! strongly evokes suspected that the man As Norris demonstrates, in the context I’ve just described, if Joe Tao Lin’s most marketable work of fiction who raised her was not her biological father. were not part of the story you would never write, ‘it was an easy yet, Taipei. In Lion Attack! Mol utilises his One day in the 1990s, long after her mother’s decision for I to make’, you’d write, ‘it was an easy decision for me to make.’ distinctly naïve narrative voice to examine death, she decides she must know the truth. Mary Norris is a copyeditor at The New Yorker and has been for over 30 years. How she what coming-of-age in Australia means Bloodhound is a quest for identity recounted started off as a milkman in Cleveland and ended up as the Comma Queen is part of this today. A lot of this memoir is focused with Koval’s customary humour and a book, but only part. The bulk of this enchanting little tome is a journey through her world internally – reading this book is like meeting moving story of the terrible cost of war and of punctuation and grammar, with some very cool anecdotes. For example, when The New Oliver Mol in person. He bares all (literally of family secrets. Yorker accepted the opening chapters of Philip Roth’s I Married a Communist for extract, – Mol is naked in his author photo) and Norris found a small error in the material supplied. Roth subsequently wrote a note to the his voice is earnest, exuberant, and alive editor of The New Yorker which read, in part, ‘Who is this woman? I want her to come and with a beat that will get stuck in your head. Australian Politics live with me!’ Like with any friend who has a habit of oversharing, Mol risks coming across as THE GILLARD PROJECT not just self-aware but self-absorbed. But ‘... this enchanting little tome is a journey through her world of Michael Cooney when Mol applies this honesty to various punctuation and grammar, with some very cool anecdotes.’ Viking. PB. $32.99 relationships, particularly with his family members, it’s hard not to be genuinely Michael Cooney was Norris sometimes comes across as a pedantic American pushing her colors, humors moved, and impossible not to relate. Julia Gillard’s and periods (full stops) but I actually found that kind of interesting. But most of the book’s With Lion Attack! Mol offers a funny, speechwriter for most content is Norris’ analyses of different grammatical conundrums. Consider the hyphen: is affecting and accessible reflection on of her time in office. James Thurber a dog lover or a dog-lover? Of course Thurber is a dog-lover; whereas the his youth and the nature of memory. The stakes were high dog ‘Tramp’, in Lady and the Tramp, is a lover that happens to be a dog. And, again, what’s This memoir is embellished, but Mol and the game had the difference between star-f*cker and star f*cker? That had me thinking for a bit, but I is interested in emotional truth, rather changed. He worked to think I got it. Norris has a whole chapter, ‘F*ck this Sh*t’, on how to use profanity: ‘... no than the distinction between fiction and crazy deadlines with one wants to be pummelled constantly by four-letter words. If we are going to use them, nonfiction. Lion Attack! is Mol speaking perpetually conflicting let’s use them right. Profanity ought to be fun.’ She devotes another chapter to gender – frankly about who he is – he’s kind, he advice, watching from was Mary a milkman, a milklady or a milkperson? She’s not conclusive or prescriptive tries hard and he’s written a book unlike behind the scenes while the government about this, but it makes for interesting reading. If you like words, language or puzzles, this anything you’ve ever read before. stumbled and the polls began to tell a grim is the book for you – or that friend or mother who always corrects you. tale. He cried and laughed and swore as Stella Charls is the marketing and events Australia’s first female prime minister got Mark Rubbo is the Managing Director of Readings coordinator for Readings through a record number of pieces of FROM INDIA WITH LOVE legislation in the time she had. This is his Perth, with her long-term lover and then story, and hers. Biography her husband following shortly after, as Latika Bourke well as cameo appearances from an old A&U. PB. $24.99 FALLEN: A MEMOIR flame and a casual fling. Using this holiday Latika Bourke was Cultural Studies adopted from India ABOUT SEX, RELIGION as a framing device is an effective way of containing the narrative, although there are when she was eight THE NEAREST THING TO AND MARRYING TOO events hinted at afterwards that would have months old. Growing up YOUNG been interesting to see expanded upon. in Bathurst, New South LIFE Rochelle Siemienowicz Siemienowicz’s writing is candid and Wales she felt a deep James Wood Affirm Press. PB. $24.99 heartfelt, with numerous moments of connection to her Jonathan Cape. HB. Was $35 From the outset great clarity. She paints characters vividly, Australian home and her $29.99 of Fallen, particularly the men in her life – her Australian family. As In this remarkable Rochelle Siemienowicz husband Isaac is variously tender, pathetic Latika carved out a successful career for blend of memoir and openly acknowledges and contemptible, and lovers are equal herself as an award-winning political criticism, James Wood that while her memoir, parts charming and grotesque. Although journalist, she became more and more has written a master which began life as a in many ways a thematic companion curious about what it meant to be born in class on the connections novel, is a true story, it to Lee Kofman’s The Dangerous Bride, India and raised in Australia. And so began between fiction and life. is first and foremost a Fallen focuses less on investigating the a deeply personal and sometimes He argues that, of all the story. Events have been phenomenon of non-monogamy than confronting journey back to her birthplace arts, fiction has a unique merged and names on Eve’s story, an intimate portrayal of to unravel the mysteries of her heritage. ability to describe the changed, even her own – she refers to a personal crisis and process of self- shape of our lives, and herself as Eve, a reflection of both her discovery. ON THE MOVE: A LIFE to rescue the texture of those lives from detachment from the person she once was, Alan Vaarwerk is the editorial assistant for Oliver Sacks oblivion. Reading is among the most sacred and the religious archetype of the ‘fallen Readings Monthly Picador. PB. $34.99 and personal of activities, here there are woman’. Few people can claim to brilliant discussions of individual works by For Eve, marrying young is the only way LION ATTACK! have made such a Chekhov, Sebald, Fitzgerald and more. to reconcile her Seventh-Day Adventist Oliver Mol profound impact on the upbringing, with its strict rules about the Scribe. PB. $27.99 public understanding of WHO COOKED ADAM sanctity of marriage, with the desires of Oliver Mol deals the brain and its inner SMITH’S DINNER? the flesh. Eve and Isaac see themselves in honesty and workings. In this book, Katrine Marcal together forever, but find themselves in optimism. His memoir, Oliver Sacks describes Scribe. PB. $27.99 their mid-twenties in a marriage that is his time at Oxford Lion Attack!, the When Adam Smith loving but increasingly devoid of desire. University, his time inaugural co-winner of wrote that all our actions Seeking to satisfy their urges while spent in San Francisco the Scribe Nonfiction stem from self-interest remaining faithful, they turn to an open and Los Angeles in the early 1960s and Prize for Young and that the world turns marriage. But, as Eve grows disenchanted charts his progression from young doctor to Writers, carries the because of financial gain, with her husband and with her faith, things his public role as a neurologist and author. subtitle ‘I’m trying to he brought to life inevitably become complicated. Here we see Sacks’s private passions placed be honest and I want ‘economic man’, who has Fallen is structured around a long- alongside his professional life. you to know that’. While aspects of this dominated our thinking awaited trip to visit her best friends in memoir are fictionalised, Lion Attack! is a ever since. But every READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 19 night Adam Smith’s mother served him his Art & Design Food & Gardening Cottage, but from a woman’s perspective. dinner – not out of self-interest, but out of The book is part how-to guide, part memoir love. In this courageous look at the mess with Margaret Snowdon with Chris Gordon and part oh how I wish that was me. The we’re in, Katrine Marçal tackles the biggest recipes are uncomplicated, heart-warming myth of our time, and invites us to kick out THE LAW OF CLOSURE COURTYARD KITCHEN and include such pearls as crumpets, jam economic man once and for all. Daniel Boyd Natalie Boog and sloe gin! Perimeter Editions. PB. $55 Murdoch. HB. $39.99 MARGARET AND ME Daniel Boyd’s work This is a sweet concept, Education Kate Gibbs & Margaret Fulton explores the omissions although not a new one. Murdoch. HB. $39.99 of history, particularly However, what is CREATIVE SCHOOLS in relation to his innovative is that the I love Margaret Fulton and Ken Robinson & Lou Aronica Aboriginal and book is divided into so this review is biased. This is the story of Kate Allen Lane. PB. $32.99 Vanuatuan heritage. produce sections, so all His work is multi- you need to do is look and her grandmother, Ken Robinson, author layered, haunting and up whatever you have Margaret Fulton, who has of the bestselling beautiful, using a harvested from your influenced the way Finding Your Element, distinctive pointillist technique. This is the garden to create a meal around it. This is a generations of Australians is one of the world’s first book tracing the oeuvre of Boyd, very practical idea and likewise, her recipes eat. Here we learn how most influential voices recent winner of the Bulgari Art Award. are easy and delicious. Boog argues, rightly, Kate’s life, career and passion for food are in education. Here he that any space can be productive for growing entwined with her grandmother’s past. There sets out his vision for food and she uses each section to give you are recipes and there are stories from both how we can transform MONGREL RAPTURE ARM Architecture both meal ideas and ideas on growing, women which commend family life, good our industrial model of manners and hospitality. Clearly what both Uro Media. HB. $89 harvesting and storing. This book is a little education to better women share is a robust, no-nonsense Despite polarising gem of inspiration. meet the needs of the 21st century. Creative approach to cooking and lifestyle. Margaret opinion, ARM have Schools looks to people who are already and Me is a celebration of Australian food and produced some of A TABLE IN THE revolutionising education. of one woman’s extraordinary influence. Australia’s most ORCHARD significant buildings: Michelle Crawford THE FRENCH BAKER the National Museum Ebury. PB. $34.99 History Jean Michel Raynaud of Australia, Crawford ran away Murdoch. HB. Was $59.99 Melbourne Recital from the bright lights SICILY $49.99 Centre, Perth Arena of Sydney (and her John Julius Norwich Not all baking books are and the Barak glamorous lifestyle) to equal. The French Baker Hachette. HB. $49.99 Building at Swanston Square. ARM’s create her own ideal features nearly 100 The stepping stone architecture draws from a diverse territory country retreat. If recipes for all things between Europe and of inspiration, and, exquisitely designed by you’ve ever dreamt of baked. The recipes are Africa, the gateway Stuart Geddes, the book includes an running away (and broken into step-by-step between the East and extensive selection of architectural really, who has not?) plans, the images make the West, at once a drawings, a rich photographic portfolio, and then this book is for you hungry and the stronghold, clearing- contributions from critics and architects you. Crawford starts at the beginning: she recipes are achievable house and observation from around the world. moved to Tasmania, bought gumboots and for the very humble home chef. The French post, Sicily has been started digging and cooking. Think River invaded and fought over OWNING IT Baker is a winner. It’s perfection. for thousands of years. Sharon Givoni In tracing its dark story, John Julius Norwich Creative Minds. HB. $75 attempts to explain the enigma that lies at the Packed with real-life case heart of the Mediterranean’s largest island. studies and user-friendly flowcharts and tables that Language & Usage simplify Australian legal terms, processes and procedures, Owning It LANDMARKS demystifies law for Robert Macfarlane creatives. This excellent guide will point you in Penguin. HB. $45 the right direction regarding the protection of your designs, trademarks, copyright, For years now, Robert reputation, confidential information and Macfarlane, author of other intellectual property (IP); how not to The Old Ways, has been inadvertently infringe someone else’s rights; collecting place-words: contract basics; licensing; how the law applies terms for aspects of online and to certain aspects of social media; landscape, nature and and much more. weather, drawn from dozens of languages and THE JAPANESE HOUSE dialects of the British Isles. Landmarks is a REINVENTED book about the power of language to shape Philip Jodidio e expect to be able to log on our sense of place, offering us fresh ways of T&H. HB. $70 Wand read, watch or listen to experiencing the natural world. Japanese houses today anything, anywhere, anytime. Then have to contend with copy it, share it, quote it, sample unique factors: from it, remix it. Does this leave writers, Health & Sex tiny plots in crowded designers, filmmakers, musicians, urban contexts to photographers, artists, and software COME AS YOU ARE ever-present seismic and game developers with any threats. Japanese rights at all? Have we forgotten Emily Nagoski architects to explore how to pay for content? Are big Scribe. PB. $29.99 alternating ideas of corporations and copyright lawyers After all the studies and stability and ephemerality in various ways, the only ones making money? shows about sex, why are resulting in spaces that are as fascinating as Or are we looking in the wrong there still so many they are idiosyncratic. Their formal direction as illegal downloading becomes the biggest industry of questions? The reality is innovation and attention to materials, all and copyright violation a way of life? In this provocative book that we’ve been lied to – technology and measures to coax in light John Birmingham, Linda Jaivin, Marc Fennell, Clem Bastow, but not deliberately. Come and air while maintaining domestic privacy Lindy Morrison, Imogen Banks, Dan Hunter, Angela Bowne and As You Are reveals the make them cutting-edge residences that others fire up the copyright debate like never before. true story behind female suggest new ways of being at home. This sexuality, uncovering the overview of 50 recent houses powerfully www.newsouthpublishing.com little-known science of what makes us tick demonstrates Japan’s enduring commitment and, importantly, how and why. to design innovation. 20 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

New Young Adult Fiction YOU’RE THE KIND OF GIRL I WRITE SONGS See books for kids, junior and middle readers on pages 18–19 ABOUT Daniel Herborn Young Adult Book of the Month HarperCollins. PB. $17.99 Tim and Mandy are both deeply THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B passionate about Teresa Toten music and they Walker. PB. $16.95 immediately connect Adam falls in love with Robyn Plummer the moment he when they meet at an meets her. After a time in a residency program for people old pub on a battle-of- with severe OCD, Robyn joins Adam’s group which consists of a the-bands night. They small number of teenagers suffering from all sorts of OCD- are both at a point in related conditions. Adam believes Robyn needs saving and takes their lives where they it upon himself to help her towards a full recovery and a life she are figuring out what lies ahead for them. deserves. As the group select superheroes as aliases, Adam Tim is a songwriter and musician, decides to become Batman to Robyn’s Robin in the hope of repeating his final high school year after becoming her superhero. But Adam is not OK himself, and as problems at home some major and traumatic family escalate, his counting and routines heighten into an uncontrollable mess and make him disruptions. Mandy, in her gap year, is wonder how on earth he can save someone else when he can barely save himself. considering her future while she works as OCD is a term often bandied around for people who are a little particular with the a sandwich artist and watches daytime way they like things, however, this book shows the true extent of what OCD can be like TV. Their story is told through their and how crippling this disorder can be. As Adam’s symptoms escalate you feel both alternating voices: there are plenty of fun frustrated with and terribly sad about his situation, and you realise that he has no control references to and observations about over what he is doing. I found this novel wonderfully fascinating, laugh-out-loud funny musicians and bands, and thoughts about and, above all, quite heart-warming with a great ending that wasn’t too soppy. A great how music enriches our lives and can read for ages 13 and up. provide comfort during tough times. It’s a cute and unsteady first love with Katherine Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn mixtapes and gig dates; music obsessed teenagers will love this novel. Kim Gruschow is from Readings Hawthorn A COURT OF THORNS only happens in movies). A SINGLE STONE There are a few things standing in her AND ROSES Meg McMinlay way: Aza is terminally ill with a disease Sarah J. Maas Walker. PB. $16.95 named after her, she has hallucinations Bloomsbury. PB. $16.99 of a world in the sky and her best friend When a girl is A Court of spends most of his time in an alligator born into the Thorns and Roses costume. She also dies (do not despair, village everyone holds is the first in a new this is the beginning of her story) and their breath for the fantasy trilogy by finds herself in another world (yes, of blue announcement of her Sarah J. Maas, the bird‑people). measurements. If she is author of the Magonia is as funny as it is multi- small enough she will acclaimed Throne of faceted, compelling and intelligent. be treated like royalty, Glass series. It is the Headley’s latest is a rom-com, a fantasy training to become part tale of an imprisoned and a thriller. I felt like a slightly crazed of the line, a select girl, two Faerie High detective reading Magonia. Pick it up – group of seven girls small enough to travel Lords and a terrible curse. Think Beauty try to solve the mysteries of Magonia for into the mountain that surrounds the and the Beast meets faerie folklore. yourself. Ages 13 and up. SI village to bring back the harvest, supplies Feyre is just as feisty and strong- upon which the town survives. The willed as the Katniss we have come ONE TRUE THING mothers, governors of the village, bind their to know in The Hunger Games. Part limbs and monitor food intake to make sure Nicole Hayes of a family that has fallen from grace, each girl doesn’t thicken. Random House. PB. $19.99 Feyre must hunt to feed her two sisters Jena is the leader of the line, born and handicapped father. When a wolf Imagine being 16 tiny and trained to be strong and reliable. crosses her path during a hunt, she must and dealing with When her foster mother gives birth early kill it to survive. Yet she soon learns the life’s challenges – the to one of the smallest girls ever, Jena price of taking another’s life as it takes a pressure of school, the starts to wonder if the mothers might have toll on both her heart and her freedom. demands of family, the something to do with the early births. For fans of Melissa Marr and complexities of A Single Stone is a beautiful and delicate Cassandra Clare, this book will hit the friendship. Now novel that tackles some big questions about spot. Maas’ latest explores sisterhood, imagine that (on top of gender and power in an interesting manner, trust and above all what sacrifices we all that) your mother entertaining the reader. With body image, make in the name of love. Recommended is the Premier of women’s roles in society, and government for ages 14 and up. Victoria in the throes of a major election corruption all part of this powerful novel and you are thrust into the public Savannah Indigo is from Readings Malvern hopefully this book gets young adults spotlight. That should give you some idea talking about these important issues. of Frankie’s predicament. Perfect for ages 11 and up. KD MAGONIA But Frankie’s got a pretty good handle Maria Dahvana Headley on things – she’s got her music (and her STAY WITH ME HarperCollins. PB. $19.99 band), a best buddy, a supportive loving Maureen McCarthy I was halfway family and now romance in the form of A&U. PB. Was $22.99 through Magonia the gorgeous Jake who’s appeared out of $19.99 when the thought nowhere and is genuinely interested in her. Tess is trapped in a crossed my mind: how Although the political backdrop is an desperate situation - did I land a job reading unusual setting in young adult literature, her violent partner about blue bird-people Frankie’s story is compellingly familiar now threatening not living in the sky?! – she’s balancing family, friendship and just Tess, but their In the aforementioned struggling to belong. But unlike most daughter as well. A book, Aza Ray teenagers she’s figuring things out under chance meeting offers reaching her sixteenth the watchful eye of an unforgiving media. a way out, and a road birthday will be a medical miracle. For This is a terrific coming of age story trip back to the heart Aza, being alive at sixteen means having a with an incredibly likable protagonist. of Tess’s past, and the party, inviting everyone she knows (except Highly recommended for ages 13 and up. family she’s left behind. But can she ever the people she doesn’t like), wearing a Athina Clarke is from Readings Malvern trust again? This is a moving story from the pink dress and kissing a cute boy (but this bestselling author of The Convent.

7996_May_ReadingsAd.indd 2 10/04/15 3:38 PM READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 21

aforementioned hamster incident and also a stealth-gluer attack to deal with! Smashie is such a fun character. She’s tough, determined and has a huge heart. Her only weakness is that she’s scared of the classroom hamster! When Patches goes missing, how will Smashie convince the class Book of the Month of her innocence? IM

88 LIME STREET: THE WAY IN Middle Fiction Denise Kirby Omnibus. PB. $16.99 ANYONE BUT IVY POCKET Caleb Krisp Ellen’s new house is huge, it has a massive overgrown garden, it’s full of old furniture Bloomsbury. HB. $19.99 and it even has towers, one of which is mysteriously blocked off. After the dried- Not everyone is delighted to meet up fountain in the backyard magically starts flowing with fresh, clear water, Ellen Ivy Pocket, but readers will surely is determined to uncover the secret of 88 Lime Street. Fortunately, while exploring, she love her. She’s a completely delusional yet finds the plans to the house in an old book. They show that there is a door to the curious always endearing maid with terrible tower, but offer only an enigmatic puzzle that Ellen alone can see as a key to the way in. manners and limitless tall stories. Life The fact that her new school is full of bullies, her parents think she’s mad and someone or becomes very interesting for Ivy when she something is sending her strange messages, really leaves Ellen with little choice but to is sent to deliver the Clock Diamond, a solve the puzzle and see what’s in the tower. very powerful and priceless stone that attracts all kinds of I loved 88 Lime Street, it starts out as a ghost story but quickly becomes something villainy and strange occurrences. Ivy is a wonderful much more exciting – a room full of children all from different points in history heroine, she’s gutsy and extremely likable in spite of her fighting a race against Time itself! 88 Lime Street is carefully written and never foolery. Ivy’s antics and the many mysteries within this really gets any scarier than spooky. It’s like a cross between Tom’s Midnight book will have readers both guessing and laughing until the Garden and an episode of Doctor Who. A great book for kids 8 and up. very end. This is a very sharp novel, filled with action and hilarity. Highly recommended for readers aged 9 and up. KG Dani Solomon is from Readings Carlton THE WATER AND THE WILD Katie E. Ormsbee Chronicle Books. HB. $27.95 A gorgeous jacket made from a wood- cut illustration sets the scene in this New adventure story for fantasy lovers aged 10 Picture Books and up. Poor Lottie is an orphan living with a dour spinster, whose only friend in the world, TEDDY TOOK THE TRAIN Eliot, is mortally ill. Her saviour is a Nicki Greenberg mysterious letter writer who sends her a magical birthday gift once a year. And the gift she wants most now is to save A&U. HB. $19.99 Kids’ Eliot’s life. Suddenly a boy appears in her room and takes Melbourne graphic novelist and her through a doorway in the apple tree to another world, picture-book author Nicki with sprites and wisps, treachery and betrayal. There she Greenberg has captured a common finds herself on a journey with three other children, a race childhood scenario and turned it into a for their very lives across the kingdom, in pursuit of a triumphant imaginative adventure. magic potion to help Eliot – the cure for the incurable. This When exuberant Dot and her mum Books is a captivating, beautifully written fantasy adventure for return from the market, Teddy is readers who enjoyed Wildwood, The Girl Who brother finds out that smallness can have its uses and that’s accidentally left behind on the train. Circumnavigated Fairyland or the Narnia chronicles. AC But Greenberg cleverly shows readers when the removal van reveals its relevance! that life is all in how you look at it: Dot decides that Teddy Jane Godwin really understands childhood and conveys took the train to a strictly teddies-only affair – the teddy that in warm, friendly stories told with an assured, poetic bears’ picnic! While Dot is at home passing the time with tempo that makes them a joy to read aloud. Here she is her other toys, Teddy is out in the world having marvellous partnered with the talented Andrew Joyner who seems to adventures. Set on the Melbourne train network, with effortlessly portray the exuberance and irrepressibility of rhythmic rhyming text and gorgeous retro illustrations, this being a child. Thoughtful fun for kids 2 and up. is a delightful story that will allay children’s fears and set Alexa Dretzke is from Readings Hawthorn their imaginations free. A brilliant book for kids aged 3-5. Classic of the Month Angela Crocombe is from Readings Carlton CARAVAN FRAN ANNE OF GREEN GABLES Cheryl Orsini L. M. Montgomery Hachette. HB. $14.99 HOP UP! WRIGGLE OVER! Random House. PB. $12.99 Caravan Fran is a dinky, retro Elizabeth Honey My heart is giddy with excitement mobile home that is about to A&U. HB. $19.99 that Anne of Green Gables is the embark on a vacation to the sea. Packed This is a really great ‘action Readings Children’s Classic of the fulsomely and lovingly by Dave, Joe and sound’ picture book, with the Month. Childhood is incomplete Sam, off they go but a bumpy road sees majority of the text consisting of slurps without the imprint of Anne on one’s the door fly open, Ray the dog fall out and chaos ensue. The and clangs that depict the day in the psyche to take with you into adult life. themes of friendship, camping and adventure are explored life of a very unorthadox family made Orphaned as a newborn, Anne’s life with a cheerful and lighthearted touch. This delightful up of a wide range of Australian fauna, with big Koala and is one of trial and struggle until – at picture book has really sweet pictures and a jaunty rhythm Kangaroo looking after their mob of youngsters. It’s age twelve – her life takes a fortuitous that makes it a perfect read aloud for the whole family. AD beautifully illustrated and very sweet, and kids will just turn for the better when she is taken in by the Cuthberts love making all of the noises with the animals. of Avonlea. A sensitive and impressionable soul, Anne’s Isobel Moore is from Readings St Kilda imagination takes flight given the manifest beauty of her Junior Fiction new surrounds. But like a dream ‘too good to be true’ HOW BIG IS TOO SMALL? SMASHIE MCPERTER AND THE Anne’s hopes are nearly dashed as the Cuthberts explain that they had been expecting a boy – to help with the Jane Godwin MYSTERY OF ROOM 11 Viking. HB. $24.99 running of the farm – and are dismayed by the mix-up that N. Griffin caused Anne to arrive in his place. Size is mostly a measurement but it Candlewick. PB. $19.95 Fortunately for Anne, her misplaced arrival is regarded is also a relative notion too. What’s Smashie McPerter and her best as ‘positively providential’ as her vivacious spirit captivates big to a small child is not necessarily so to friend (and sidekick) Dontel the Cuthberts’ hearts and disarms the proud people of an adult. In Sam’s case he’s too small to Marquise are forced to come to the Avonlea. Young readers, too, will love Anne for her earnest play with his older brother and his friends. rescue of Room 11 and solve the mystery efforts to be good yet uncanny knack for troublesome This makes him cross and one day he of the missing hamster in this romp of a misadventures. For me, this is an uplifting story about the decides to do a bit of analysis of this big/ comedy. Whilst stuck with the worst search for ‘kindred spirits’ and a sense of belonging. But it small matter. Yet this is just a smoke screen for the issue at substitute teacher ever, Room 11’s day is Anne’s imaginative nature that is most enchanting of all. the heart of the story because Sam is lonely and really wants goes from bad to worse, with both the to be included in his brother’s games. However, even his Natalie Platten is from Readings Hawthorn 22 READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015

New Film & TV with Lou Fulco New Music

DVD of the Month Album of the Month

THE WITNESSES MELBOURNE’S WOMEN OF SOUL Available 5 May. $39.95 Various With all the excitement and press favouring the new wave of $19.95 Nordic noir that seems to run in endless supply onto our To celebrate what will be the fifth anniversary of their annual shelves, it is easy to understand how many wonderful series from concerts this year, the Melbourne Women of Soul collective have other European nations get lost in the flood. A new French crime put together a fantastic album of all original tracks written exclusively drama that has just finished its six-part run on SBS is The Witnesses. for this release. What began life in 2010 as a coming together of some of this town’s I’m going to say that this is the best series of its type I have seen in swingingest soul sistas for a live show has gone from strength to strength based on their years. As good as Broadchurch, and the equal of all the great series glowing live performances. So much so that they’ve wisely decided that a recording was in coming out of Scandinavia at present … and in the past! order – much to our gain. The Witnesses is set in the north of France in a gloomy small coastal village in Normandy One glance at this line up – which reads as a who’s who of talent from the local soul/ where exhumed bodies of the recently deceased start to show up in display homes, funk scene – is enough to get any soul fan salivating and feeling a little weak kneed. ritualised in perfect family settings. Linking each site is a photo of Paul Maisonneuve, The MWOS features the scintillating vocal stylings of Kylie Auldist, Chelsea Wilson, a retired French police force legend. Sandra Winckler is the young cop assigned to the Candice Monique, Stella Angelico, May Johnston, Lisa Faithfull, Rita Satch and Christina case. Working alongside the returning Maisonneuve she must discover who is behind the Perfection. Not enough? Throw in a backing band made up of members of the Bamboos, gruesome settings whilst also dealing with the secrets and half truths that seem to lead Cookin’ on Three Burners and the Putbacks and, well, you’ve got yourself a unit positively her into dead ends. What is it that links this legend of the police force with these bodies? hell-bent on a deep groove. What is this secret past that links these two police officers? Is there more at play than first Whether it’s Candice Monique’s Al Green-esque ‘My Beautifully Broken Heart’, the thought? All I can say is that you must watch up until the very last scene. scorching funk workout of Christina Perfection’s ‘Back It Up’, the always immense Kylie Paul Maisonneuve is played by Thierry Lhermitte, one of France’s great film stars. Auldist’s ‘More Than a Mouthful’ or May Johnston channeling Betty Davis on ‘Love Sandra Winckler is played by Marie Dompnier, a seasoned stage actress in what is her first Connection’, there really are too many highlights on this record to mention in one review. major role in front of a camera. Their relationship is one of secrets in which Maisonneuve My only piece of advice is this – get on board the soul train and let these first ladies of funk plays it cool and lets on very little and raw emotion in which Winckler shows her show you why our home town has become internationally recognised as producing some of frustration and frailties not only with her ‘new’ partner but with her job and home life. the finest current exponents of the genre anywhere in the world. Kinda makes you proud, The chemistry between not only these two but with the whole supporting cast makes this right down to your soul. superior murder mystery essential viewing. Northern coastal France plays its part and I felt like I needed to rug up just to watch this. I have no doubt that Australia will fall in love Declan Murphy is from Readings St Kilda with the dark beauty of The Witnesses and of Marie Dompnier who lights up the screen with both her fragility and assuredness. Wonderful! Lou Fulco is from Readings Hawthorn Pop & Rock Folk & World

ST VINCENT SOUND & COLOR TRUTH SEEKERS, Film $39.95 Alabama Shakes LOVERS & WARRIORS $21.95 ‘There are few surprises in Joseph Tawadros SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL Bill Murray’s depiction of a $21.95 Sound & Color is the $19.95 smoking, drinking, gambling Recorded in just two follow-up to the four-time It feels like we’re curmudgeon but there are days in January 2015, the Grammy-nominated Boys experiencing a golden plenty of rewards.’ album brings the unique & Girls. From the gently swaying title song age of indie documentary – Sydney Morning Herald sounds of the oud in a powerhouse recording to garage-rock freak-outs to psychedelic filmmaking. Thanks to of diverse repertoire, showcasing Tawadros’ space jams, Alabama Shakes build on their crowdfunding and streaming KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON original and exciting cross-genre composition. soulful blues-rock base and map a surprising, services, we’re spoilt for choice $29.95 innovative new direction. EL MUTAKALLIMUN as viewers, yet while this staggering array of ‘There’s no need to be a jazz Souad Massi voices might leave you feeling overwhelmed, aficionado to enjoy this story … EDGE OF THE SUN the range of quality material out there makes not just a description of a $22.95 Calexico stumbling across a truly special film that music icon but a rare chance at On El Mutakallimun, $21.95 much more exciting. seeing, in reality, both the Souad Massi has immersed Small is Beautiful is one of those extra beginning and the end of a herself in Arabic poetry For the better part of two special films. Filmed in Portland, Oregon, highly unlikely dream.’ and used some of the most significant poems decades, Calexico has Australian filmmaker Jeremy Beasley – Filmink from across the millennium as the lyrics for documents the tiny house movement, crossed musical barriers, her beautiful collection of songs. a grassroots response to the housing embracing a multitude of styles and variety affordability crisis that traps people from TV in instrumentation. Edge of the Sun takes across the developed world. While researching inspiration from a trip to Mexico City, and a Country what it would take to design and build his number of singers and multi-instrumentalist REDFERN NOW: guests help guide the way. own tiny house, Jeremy was struck by the SOMETHING IN THE empowered community he encountered. PROMISE ME The film follows four people, each at various $19.95 THE MAGIC WHIP WATER stages of building and living in their homes ‘Following two landmark Blur Pokey LaFarge (all with little or no building experience), and seasons, Redfern Now affirms $21.95 $21.95 works to de-romanticise a trend all too easily its quality and distinction St. Louis-based singer, dismissed as a whimsical Portlandia plot. with a finely crafted These recordings, released songwriter, and multi- The film is shot beautifully, with a hell of telemovie about courage, fear 16 years since their last instrumentalist Pokey a lot of heart, and offers a unique, affecting and shame.’ album as a four-piece, LaFarge draws from a deep well of answer to the question – is living tiny a – Sydney Morning Herald began during a five-day break in touring in American musical traditions to create serious solution to today’s pressing issues of spring 2013 in Hong Kong. Subsequently, distinctively personal and timeless music. housing affordability and sustainability? Graham Coxon revisited the tracks and Stella Charls is the marketing and events Also coming soon worked with the band on the material in coordinator for Readings November 2014. Jazz & Blues THE IMITATION GAME MY OLD LADY (1 MAY) WILDER MIND FOLIES BERGERE (6 MAY) WILD MAN DANCE Available 6 May. $39.95 Mumford & Sons ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK SEASON 2 Charles Lloyd $21.95 ‘A gripping and still rather (20 MAY) $24.95 extraordinary story … This new album marks a 50 SHADES OF GREY (21 MAY) More than 50 years into an Cumberbatch’s intense, wired significant departure in BABYLON SEASON 2 (27 MAY) already legendary career, and very fine performance texture and dynamics for SONG ONE (27 MAY ) the esteemed saxophonist perfectly conveys the the young British band AMERICAN SNIPER $39.95 (27 MAY) and composer delivers a live recording of a constant stress endured by a from their previous records. Twelve new remarkable long-form suite commissioned man in his position.’ – The Australian tracks, written collaboratively in London, by the Jazztopad Festival in Poland. Brooklyn, and Texas. READINGS MONTHLY MAY 2015 23

New Classical Music

Classical Album of the Month

THE CHOPIN ALBUM Sol Gabetta & Bertrand Chamayou Sony. 88843093012. $21.95 At only 34, Sol Gabetta has made more acclaimed recordings than many cellists could dream of producing in a lifetime. Thankfully, Gabetta offers us quality along with quantity. Her recording of the Elgar cello concerto rivals that of Jacqueline Du Pré, and her interpretation of the Shostakovich would no doubt impress even its dedicatee Rostropovich. Gabetta’s playing is consistently stylish and original, to which every one of her recordings attests. This particular recording with Bertrand Chamayou at the piano offers fewer opportunities for displays of virtuosity, but Gabetta delivers as a sensitive chamber musician. Gabetta and Chamayou present a number of compositions by Chopin for cello and piano, including two he composed with cellist Auguste-Joseph Franchomme and one original composition by Franchomme. Chopin is best known for his music for solo piano, although listening to this CD one could be forgiven for thinking the cello rather than piano was his primary instrument. Franchomme, Chopin’s colleague and friend, was a virtuoso cellist, and the two would often perform these works together at Parisian salon recitals. The selection presented here, therefore, makes for a great recital disc. French pianist Chamayou is a brilliant duo partner for Gabetta. His rendering of Chopin’s piano writing is masterful without being overpowering, particularly during the Polonaise brillante in C major. Almost a piano solo with cello interludes, here Chamayou’s fingers seamlessly trip across the keys to produce a truly magical sound. Gabetta’s playing is proportionally assertive and playful. Even though the recording is a purely aural rather than visual experience it’s easy to detect a friendly and sympathetic collaboration between the two musicians. Both offer intelligent readings of the score while still maintaining a sense of fun and lightheartedness when the music calls for it. A lovely collection of romantic gems for cello and piano. Alexandra Mathew is from Readings Carlton Book now melbournejazz.com BRITTEN AND BARBER: THE BLUE NOTEBOOKS Pharoah Sanders PIANO CONCERTOS AND Max Richter Quartet NOCTURNES DG. 4794443. $26.95 Elizabeth Joy Roe, LSO & Emil Max Richter’s Four Tabakov Seasons Recomposed Decca. 4788189. $26.95 (2014) was a hit with Elizabeth Joy Roe Readings’ staff and is a prodigiously customers. Even those talented pianist. Her whose usual reaction is to playing is infused with disregard classical music found themselves ESSENTIAL CLASSICS vitality and passion, enjoying the beautiful reimaginings of essential elements for a Vivaldi. The Blue Notebooks, a 10th Cantillation performance of Benjamin Britten’s only anniversary re-release of the composer’s BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – CHORAL POP brings piano concerto, composed when he was second album, is breathtaking. Opening with you all of your favourite pop songs from 25 and a piece that ‘dashes along at a reading by Tilda Swinton from Franz yesteryear as you’ve never heard them before! Recorded by Cantillation, one of Australia’s full-speed’, as he wrote in his diary. Roe Kafka’s The Blue Octavo Notebooks, the CD is finest choirs, this album features choral re- says the concerto’s ‘sharply etched a meandering exploration of Richter’s music. imaginings of classics such as Mamma Mia, figurations [feel] enlivening to play’, and ‘On the Nature of Daylight’, both in its Blackbird and Bohemian Rhapsody. this is immediately apparent from the original iteration and in the slightly revised opening bars of the first movement. bonus track, is a particular highlight, Benjamin Britten and Samuel Barber featuring a rich, sweeping string section, and Award-winning make compatible CD companions. a violin solo with faint echoes of Vaughan Amy Dickson saxophonist Amy Dickson presents her new Barber is among America’s best- Williams’ Lark Ascending. Richter cites album ISLAND SONGS on ABC Classics. celebrated composers whose music Sigur Rós as an influence, evident in the Featuring world-premiere recordings of bears strong national significance, heartrendingly still ‘Horizon Variations’. concertos by three of Australia’s most renowned and Britten is similarly regarded as This, along with tracks such as ‘Written on composers: Brett Dean, Ross Edwards and Peter the quintessentially British composer the Sky’, will similarly appeal to Arvo Pärt Sculthorpe. Recorded with the Sydney whose work brought about an English fans for its elegance and simplicity. Richter’s work conjures many Symphony Orchestra, all works on the album music renaissance when trends were written and arranged specifically for Amy. favoured the European avant-garde. descriptions: atmospheric, intimate, Both were gay and were in committed, cinematic, nostalgic and melancholic. Even life-long relationships at a time when the grey album cover is evocative of the homosexuality was illegal, and, without minimalist, neo-classical music contained Mercury Living Presence compromising their artistic integrity, within. Listening to Blue Notebooks is both wrote music that was accessible a satisfying experience in itself, but, as Volume 3 to audiences beyond the concert- I’ve discovered, it also provides a great This amazing set includes going elite. Britten and Barber are as soundtrack to reading and studying, and to several items never before fascinating as their music is brilliant, and an enjoyable day’s work at Readings. AM on CD, mixed down from more importantly, the piano repertoire the original tapes, featured on this disc is representative of SHOSTAKOVICH: STRING restored and remastered. the finest twentieth-century Western art QUARTETS 1, 8 & 14 From Fennell to Flamenco music. Borodin Quartet and Beethoven to A highlight is Roe’s powerful Decca. 4788205. $24.95 Shostakovich, this 53-CD interpretation of Barber’s Nocturne. It’s ‘The playing of the current SET has been lovingly and worth purchasing the CD just to hear this Borodin Quartet members painstakingly remastered at Abbey Road at 96kHz / 24-bit. Illustrated mesmerising and eerie piece, composed has a molten intensity in this with contemporaneous photographs, the booklet offers an in homage to John Field. AM disc, which exudes authority.’ exceptional level of detail. This is a STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION. – The Financial Times Tokyo, Japan